Local Work Group Meetings and Listening Sessions

What is a Local Work Group?

The locally led conservation effort is the foundation of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) conservation program delivery process. The local work group supports the locally led conservation effort by coordinating USDA programs with other Federal, State, tribal, and local conservation programs to provide an integrated solution to addressing natural resource concerns.

Purpose

The purpose of the local work group is to provide advice to NRCS concerning the implementation of conservation programs. Convened by the local conservation district, the local work group may advise NRCS on:

• Conditions of the natural resources and the environment,
• The local application process, including ranking criteria and application periods,
• Identifying the educational and training needs of producers,
• Cost-share rates and payment levels and methods of payment,
• Eligible conservation practices,
• The need for new, innovative conservation practices,
• Public outreach and information efforts,
• Program performance indicators, and
• Act as representatives to serve on a multi-state committee, as needed.

Membership

The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) prohibits non-government individuals from spending Federal dollars or providing advice in a formal decision-making process related to the expenditure of such funds. As a result, membership of the local work group is limited to Federal, State, county, tribal, or local government representatives. Despite the membership limitation, public participation is allowed and very much encouraged at local work group meetings. Local work group membership may include:

• NRCS District Conservationist;
• Members of the conservation district board;
• Members of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee;
• FSA county executive director;
• Conservation district manager;
• Cooperative Extension agent;
• State or local elected or appointed officials;
• Tribal representatives; and
• Other Federal and State government representatives.

Working Procedures

The local work group will establish its own working procedures, including:

• Organization,
• Decision-making procedures,
• Meeting dates, including timely notification of members,
• Recording and distributing group considerations, actions, and decisions, and
• Others as deemed necessary.

For More Information

Contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the local conservation district in your county for more information. The NRCS office is listed in the telephone book under U.S. Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture.