Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners can now do business with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a new online portal. With today's launch of Conservation Client Gateway, producers will have the ability to work with conservation planners online to access Farm Bill programs, request assistance, and track payments for their conservation activities.
NACD has been pleased to be a part of the development of this new online portal, and has hosted focus groups of producers during the process to test and evaluate various components. NACD has also hosted opportunities for members to view the Conservation Client Gateway during this development period.
Conservation Client Gateway enables farmers, ranchers and private landowners to securely:
- Request NRCS technical and financial assistance;
- Review and sign conservation plans and practice schedules;
- Complete and sign an application for a conservation program;
- Review, sign and submit contracts and appendices for conservation programs;
- Document completed practices and request certification of completed practices;
- Request and track payments for conservation programs; and
- Store and retrieve technical and financial files, including documents and photographs.
Conservation Client Gateway is entirely voluntary, giving producers a choice between conducting business online or traveling to a USDA service center. For more information, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov/clientgateway.