T he Nacogdoches Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) works with other affiliated government entities in assisting landowners with conservation practices that are beneficial to overall productivity. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the federal agency that provides leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. Formerly the Soil Conservation Service, the NRCS was created as a response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. From their inception, the NRCS and local conservation districts have worked closely to assist private landowners. Currently, the NRCS provides cost-share assistance for landowners to carry out conservation practices. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides landowners with 50% cost share on certain practices carried out in Nacogdoches County, including pasture planting and tree planting. Come by the USDA Service Center for details, or call 564-5891 ext. 101. Al Schmidt, the District Conservationist in Nacogdoches County, administers this program.  A t the state level, the Nacogdoches SWCD works closely with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB). The TSSWCB was created in the early 1940's to administer Texas soil conservation law and provide assistance to SWCDs. The TSSWCB provides matching funds and technical assistance to the states 217 SWCDs. In Nacogdoches, the TSSWCB has a Poultry Program office. This office works with the Nacogdoches SWCD in assisting poultry producers with cost-share assistance and WQMPs.
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