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Jackson County Conservation District

Conservation Technical Assistance Initiative

 Zachary A. Smith

 CTAI Specialist

 

Since I am new to this County I will start with a short introduction,

      I started working in Jackson County in Early October 2006.  For 5 years prior I worked from Lenawee County on the River Raisin Watershed Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  As we all know the River Raisin watershed encompasses portions of Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Washtenaw and Monroe counties. I was one of two Technicians covering these counties.

During this time, I gained quite a bit of experience with different conservation programs that are available to landowners and producers through USDA under the 2002 farm bill.  The majority of my job was identifying program options with the farmers for solving environmental issues on their land.

 

The Conservation Technical Assistance Initiative.

 

             This is a brand new program that has sprung from a need that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State of Michigan identified.  Currently in Michigan, there is a $50 Million dollar backlog of funds that have been allocated through conservation programs to land owners, however for a plethora of reasons have not been paid out.  The majority of these programs utilize practices that have to be designed by NRCS engineers; after the design phase is completed the participants are under contract to complete the construction of the practice.  The implementation portion is sometimes a confusing part of the process for the participant.

The CTAI Specialists primary job is to assist NRCS to providing pre-construction and on-site technical assistance with implementation of the practices to make sure they are constructed to NRCS Standards and Specifications.  This assistance also reduces stress on the landowners to locate material suppliers, contractors and independent consulting firms.

  If you are interested in applying for, or need any information on agricultural programs offered through USDA, you may contact any of the following at

(517) 784-2800

 

Zac Smith, CTAI Specialist, Ext. 211

            Tamela Smith,   Farm Service Agency C.E.D. Ext.200

            NRCS District Conservationist. Ext. 212