English: Aerial view of Mt. Toby Farm (left of Connecticut River), in Sunderland, MA, has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) to create their conservation plan that includes the use of Forage and biomass Planting (512) and Establish and reseed their cover crop during the cool season, on October 18, 2019. Working with Natural Resource Specialist / Business Tools Coordinator Lisa Gilbert who records the progress with the conservation plan. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung. Mt. Toby Farm is along the bank of the Connecticut River; across the river, to the right, is the University of Massachusetts Crop Animal Research and Education Center, and Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation.

Forage and Biomass Planting, Conservation Practice Code 512 - Forage and biomass planting is used to establish adapted and/or compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of herbaceous species suitable for pasture, hay, or biomass production. For more information, please see nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/enespanol/?cid=nrcs144p2_027163

Cover Crop, Conservation Practice Code 340 - Crops including grasses, legumes, and forbs for seasonal cover and other conservation purposes. For more information, please see nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1046845.pdf

NRCS has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For more than 80 years, we have helped people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat.

As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science.

And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department’s focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.

The agencies and service supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

NRCS – NRCS - nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/

FPAC - Farm Production and Conservation - usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/mission-areas

USDA - USDA.gov