Farm Programs

Farm programs in Hendricks County that are administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service (SCS).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service works hand-in-hand with county residents to encourage the wise use of our natural resources on both agricultural and non-agricultural land. NRCS provides technical assistance to the farming community and urban landowners. The Hendricks County Soil & Water Conservation District serves as a delivery system for NRCS programs in a unique and successful partnership for the past 48 years.

Programs that NRCS is responsible for:

Conservation Technical Assistance for Erosion Control (CTA)
Conservation Security Program (CSP)

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

Field Office Technical Guide

Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) (Fact sheet) (Key Talking Points) (Question & Answers)

National Resources Inventory (NRI)

Soil Surveys

Wetland Determinations (for Ag purposes)

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) (Fact sheet)
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) (Fact sheet)

Technical Assistance to Other Programs:

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Highly Erodible Land (HEL)

In short, the NRCS is dedicated to better conservation through a total natural resources approach. Policies are based on sound science and ecological principals that enable land users to balance a productive economy with a healthy environment.

In Hendricks County, about 63% of the 266,880 acres are still farmland. Farmland is being converted to urban uses at a rate of about 1,900 to 2,600 acres per year. There are many challenges facing farmers with the urbanization taking place in eastern part of the county.