COLUMBUS, Ohio — When raising animals or crops it’s important to have healthy soil and pasture. In time, though, these may become depleted of nutrients because of overgrazing. Or, perhaps erosion has taken its toll on the soil.

Whatever the dilemma, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is willing to help.

“It isn’t anything new, and we’re trying to reach people we haven’t been able to reach before,” said NRCS Public Affairs Specialist Christina Coulon. “We want to help those in agriculture and let them know what we have to offer. They may have some problems on their farm, and there may be some things we can to do help.”

The NRCS may be willing to help pay to keep the soil and pasture healthy. But first, an application is needed to start this process. “If there are beginning farmers out there with not a lot of money on hand, they may not realize that there are things they can do to alleviate the problems they have on their land, or they may not know of certain problems going on there on their farm,” Coulon said.

“For example, minority farmers with limited resources can receive up to 90 percent of the cost to help them with their land. If they wanted to install an erosion-control measure on their land, we would fund up to 90 percent of that project.”

Although minority and first-time farmers stand to benefit the most from this offering, veteran farmers may quality for financial assistance. Coulon encourages interested parties to contact the local NRCS in their county as soon as possible, as applications must be received by Dec. 15.

Once an application is on file, a NRCS representative will assist the applicant with an action plan.

According to Coulon, “a farmer wanting a healthier pasture for grazing animals may be given plans by NRCS to move animals from one pasture to another on a regular schedule so the grass can re-emerge in the pasture not being used. Or, perhaps a fence will be suggested for temporary pastures used in rotational grazing.” Coulon said the NRCS can help pay for part of the fencing.

This process begins at the county level.

“We have a lot of expertise and technical advice to offer individuals,” said Layne Garringer, conservation specialist with NRCS in Hillsboro, Ohio. “We’re able to recognize some of the things they need to be doing or just doing correctly. We can sit down with the producer and offer help with various aspects of soil, livestock or water there on the land. We can work with them and see if there are resources to identify to work on.

“If there are incentives that require financial help, we can offer them some assistance. We first, though, look at the farming operations and see what resources they have on hand. We help producers find ways of using these resources in an appropriate way that will help them and the environment. If so, there are some programs we have access to in order to offer them some assistance.”

Such programs include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. “It’s our goal in every county in Ohio to let people know we’re here to help them,” Coulon said.

For more about NRCS and to apply for funding through conservation programs, make an appointment with your local NRCS office or call 614-255-2472. To find the NRCS office in any Ohio county, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov