Young bovine. Males are called

To convert future income to current value.

The record of resource information, decisions, and technical assistance for a specific client.

what a farmer raises, crop or livestock, to sell for money

An arrangement in which a farm operator rents a piece of land from its owner for a set per-acre price.

Let the buyer beware.

A collection of information on the agricultural sector of the U.S. economy that includes vast quantities of data

Includes water bodies of at least 40 acres and perennial streams at least 1/8 mile wide. Also referred to as Large water bodies and Large streams.

A self-propelled irrigation system in which a single pipeline supported on towers rotates around a central point. The effect from above can be rather striking since the circular part of the field that is watered tends to contrast dramatically with the unwatered portions.

A person who has the necessary skills, training, and experience to implement the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) planning process to meet client objectives in solving natural resource problems.

Usually refers to the generic research and commodity promotion programs for farm products funded by farmers, importers or others in the industry. For farmers, an automatic or mandatory deduction from their marketing receipts is used to fund activities that promote or otherwise support a particular farm product such as the generic advertising for beef (

The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the person delegated authority to act for the Chief.

Characterizes climatic erosivity, specifically wind speed and surface soil moisture.

Crops that are generally drill-seeded or broadcast, such as wheat, oats, rice, barley, and flax.

A self-propelled grain harvester. In one operation it combines cutting, threshing, separation and cleaning of grain, as well as dispersing the stems, stalks or other crop residue. The word is also a verb referring to the action of harvesting a field with a combine. In both cases, the accent is on the first syllable, which rhymes with the name

An agricultural good

A federally owned and operated corporation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture created to stabilize, support and protect agricultural prices and farm income through loans, purchases, payments, and other operations.

The word that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) uses to describe a farm field

A geographical area where resource concerns, problems, and treatment needs are similar. Landscape conditions, soil, climate, human considerations, and other natural resource information is used to determine the geographical boundaries of the common resource area.

An individual that may or not be decision makers but have an interest in actions recommended for implementation by the USDA programs.

An actual land sale used in an appraisal to help estimate the market value of a similar piece of land.

The installation of one or more conservation practice to replace a practice destroyed or removed.

Any combination of structural practices, land management practices, and management activities associated with crop or livestock production that ensures the purposes of production and preservation of natural resources are compatible.

Agreement of all parties on the item in question.

A livestock facility that stables, confines, feeds, or maintains animals for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period. This facility does not sustain crops or forage within the confined area.

A unit of local government in each State formed to carry out a local soil and water conservation program.

The differences between anticipated effects of treatment in comparison to existing or benchmark conditions.

NRCS funded grant to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The Center for Absentee Landowners is funded through this 3-year grant.

A combination of conservation practices and resource management practices that satisfies criteria for a resource management system.

A field, group of fields, or other land units of the same land use and having similar treatment needs and planned management. CMU is a grouping by the planner to simplify planning activities and facilitate development of resource management systems. A CMU has definite boundaries, such as fence, drainage, vegetation, topography, soil lines, or land use.

This is a program administered by the federal government that works to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. This program is available on rangeland. Landowners can receive techncial assistance through this program to plan and apply conservation on their land.

A record of the client

A structural, vegetative, or management treatment used to protect our natural resources.

The matrix in the FOTG, that gives the physical effects of many conservation practices on soil, water, air, plants, and animals.

An area designated by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with significant natural resource concerns.

A binding agreement between Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and one or more participants that identifies and schedules conservation treatment, and provides payments to participants.

The Conservation Reserve Enahancement Program (CREP) is administered by the federal government and provides incentive for landowners to take land out of production. This program promotes the restoration of wetlands. Landowners receive an annual rental payment for taking land out of production and establishing a vegetative cover.

A federal program that retires from production up to 45 million acres of highly erodible and environmentally sensitive farmland. In exchange for keeping lands for 10 to 15 years in approved uses that prevent erosion, the landowner receives an annual rental payment, cost-share payments to establish permanent vegetative cover and technical assistance. The CRP reportedly has reduced erosion by up to 700 million tons per year, improving the quality of lakes, streams and rivers, and reducing airborne dust.

A legal document that specifies the rights and obligations of any person who has been accepted for participation in CSP (Conservation Security Program).

The conservation planning document developed by the participant with assistance by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) or once the application is selected.

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) rewards those farmers who have implemented conservation practices on their cropland. The theme of this program is to

A combination of conservation practices and resource management for the treatment of soil, water, air, plant, or animal resource concerns.

The Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTA) provides information to help conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources so landowners can make informed decisions. This program provides free assistance and advice to address opportunities, concerns, and problems related to the use of natural resources. This program does not provide financial assistance but can serve as the basis to enter into other government conservation programs.

According to the nonprofit Conservation Technology Information Center , this refers to any tillage and planting system that leaves at least 30 percent of the soil surface covered by

Any and all conservation practices, measures, and works of improvement that have the purpose of alleviating resource concerns, solving or reducing the severity of natural resource use problems, or taking advantage of resource opportunities.

A long term rotation of alfalfa or multi-year grasses and legumes, summer fallow, typically cropped wet areas rotated to wildlife habitat, such as rice fields; or crops planted to provide an adequate seedbed for re-seeding.

Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) is administered by the federal governemnt. It provides incentive for landowners to improve water quality and increase wildlife. This program is available on cropland, rangeland, forestland and recreational land. It provides cost-share payments, technical assistance, and incentive and rental payments to landowners.

A vegetated area that follows the contour of the land.

Lines on a topographical or contour map that connect points having the same elevation.

A number or number and letter used to identify required conservation practices/activities and identifiable components, respectively.

The term in which the contract is effective and legally binding.

Tillage operations that are traditionally considered standard for a specific location and crop and that tend to bury the crop residues. Conventional tillage is becoming less and less

A wetland that has been manipulated with an activity that results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or reach of water, to make the production of an agricultural commodity possible.

(sometimes known as

(also called

Cooperative Extension Service

A specific application of the planning process, that may include a variety of clients, stakeholders, organizations, agencies, and others, and a variety of land ownerships, that can address a multitude of resource or resource related problems, opportunities, or concerns. CRM is frequently accomplished through

Also known as

As far as we know, this is not a fashion accessory. It is that area of the United States where corn is a principal cash crop and includes Iowa , Indiana , most of Illinois , and parts of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin .

Despite widespread belief to the contrary, this term does not mean

The amount actually paid or engaged to be paid by a participant for equipment use, materials, and services for carrying out a practice or identifiable component.

Valuing property based on the current replacement cost less depreciation.

A list of conservation practices which identifies the payments for cost-share in a geographic area.

The payments made to a participant, under the particular program, specifically mentioned.

The percentage of the cost paid by the federal government for completing the installation of a practice.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) employee responsible for directing and managing program and administrative operations in one or more county offices.

A type of ownership of land belonging to a subdivision of state such as county or parish (Louisiana) and boroughs (Alaska).

The ratio of soil loss from an area with specific cover and management to that from an identical area in tilled continuous fallow.

A close-growing crop, planted primarily as a rotation between regularly planted crops or to reduce weed pressures before the regular crop emerges, that protects soil from erosion and improves it between periods of regular crops.

A female bovine that has had a calf.

This is going to sound obvious, but this is a ranch or farm operation that consists of

A type of wetland classification.

Protects farmers from crop losses due to natural hazards. Hail and fire insurance are offered through private companies without federal subsidy. A subsidized multi-peril federal insurance program also is available to most farmers.

used in RUSLE2

That portion of a plant, such as corn stalks, shucks, leaves and cobs, left in the field after harvest. It used to be called

Growing different crops in recurring succession on the same land. Rotation is done to replenish soil fertility and to keep down pest populations in order to increase the potential for high levels of production in future years. We are sorry to tell you that it does not involve a turntable.

Assessments of pest pressure, growing conditions and crop performance through field observations. The idea is to make sure that the cure

Removal of cull trees, less desirable trees, and vines to release crowns of crop trees. Crop trees are high-value species, that are dominant or co-dominant in position and are well-formed and free of major forest diseases and insects.

The crop and certain input costs are divided between the operator and the owner. (often half and half)

Land used for the production of crops for harvest. Includes cultivated cropland and non-cultivated cropland.

Land used primarily for the production of row crops, close-growing crops, and fruit and nut crops. The nation

A record of the crop that was on the land each of the 3 years preceding the current inventory year.

To improve the land by plowing and fertilizing

Evidence of activities and accomplishments of people including remnants of past cultures and some unique resources associated with present day cultures.

The process of allowing tobacco to air-dry slowly, usually over six to eight weeks, rather than rapidly in a heated flue. Burley tobacco is always cured instead dried. If the crop dries too quickly, it will turn the wrong color, and color is a key component in price farmer receive for their crop.