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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs. A part of this initiative, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently opened job announcements for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort by NRCS to help producers develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices, including critical climate-smart practices.
NRCS soil conservationists offer conservation planning and technical help to agricultural producers, helping them implement practices that sequester carbon, mitigate against climate change and conserve other natural resources. This assistance helps producers who apply and are funded for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and others.
To qualify as a soil conservationist, candidates must meet the education requirements, or a combination of education and experience requirements. NRCS posted multiple vacancy announcements based on region and this includes the Southeast. But, those announcements close on May 15th.
Plus, to help with implementation, NRCS is working with partners to hire nearly 3,000 team members in the coming years, who will also play a critical role in the conservation planning and implementation process, complementing the work done by NRCS employees.
Click here to learn more about these NRCS opportunities.