The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) under the US Department of Agriculture, works with the Chester County Conservation District to direct conservation efforts in the County. Local farmers and citizens on the Board of the Conservation District set policy for the NRCS Field Office in Chester County and inform NRCS of issues of importance to the County. NRCS Field Staff members provide technical assistance for implementing District policies.

In 1995, NRCS assisted the Agricultural Land Preservation Program by reviewing 293 applications on 28,472 acres and completed plans for 8 farms on 779 acres. Also in 1995, 32 Food Security Act (FSA) Status Reviews were completed along with 121 new FSA plans or revisions on 8,615 acres. In addition, NRCS accomplishments included the following: 656 individuals assisted, 56 individuals assisted for conservation practices and 3,504 acres developed for the Resource Conservation Plan.

One of the NRCS's duties is to assist local government agencies. This was accomplished by assisting the Conservation District with the Chesapeake Bay Program, Red & White Clay Watershed Program, the Element Management Program and the Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

Structures and Management Practices applied on farms in Chester County in 1995:

Waste Management Systems 6 units

Agricultural Waste Structures 5 units

Conservation Cropping System ..2,875 acres

Conservation Tillage 3,777 acres

Cover Crops 2,577 acres

Critical Area Seeding 24 acres

Crop Residue Management 3,452 acres

Diversions 15,976 feet

Waterways 30.2 acres

Contour Strip Cropping 1,004 acres

Field Strip Cropping 209 acres

Structures for Water Control 38 units

Terraces 19,542 feet

Underground Outlets 5,365 feet

Barnyard Runoff Management 7 acres

Spring Development I unit

Element Management 973 acres