Environmental Management Solutions (EMS) has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The pact calls for EMS to train and certify technical service providers (TSP) who will help producers adopt sound environmental solutions.
EMS is the first private firm to partner with NRCS in educating trainers to aid producers in developing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP), conservation plans and nutrient management plans.
EMS will also assist NRCS with contracting for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost-share funding. All work must meet federal standards and specifications.
The EMS consists of 350 trained, certified environmental assessors and CNMP planners in 33 states. For more information, log on to www.emsllc.org.
A list of 700 certified TSPs are posted on a national, web-based registry called TechReg at: http://techreg.usda.gov/.