Texas is home to a vibrant and diverse agricultural community that faces unique conservation challenges and opportunities. On May 22, 2025, the Texas State Technical Committee (STC) met in Temple, Texas, to discuss critical updates and provide recommendations that help guide conservation work across the state. The STC serves as an advisory body to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist, ensuring that conservation programs align with local priorities and stakeholder needs.
What Is the Texas State Technical Committee?
The STC is a vital advisory group composed of representatives from federal and state agencies, agricultural organizations, environmental groups, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. Its primary role is to provide feedback on the implementation of conservation provisions in Farm Bill legislation. The committee recommends guidelines and criteria for conservation practices and helps shape how programs are rolled out to Texas’ diverse agricultural landscape.
The STC is chaired by the NRCS State Conservationist and is supported by subcommittees focused on key areas like forestry, grazing, water resources, and wildlife. This structure ensures that a wide range of perspectives informs the development of conservation initiatives that impact everything from soil health to wildlife habitat.
Meeting Highlights
NRCS Updates and Celebrations
Kristy Oates, the NRCS Texas State Conservationist, opened the meeting with updates on NRCS activities, including celebrating NRCS’s 90th anniversary and USDA’s 163rd birthday. She highlighted ongoing work in watershed programs and recognized leadership transitions, including the recent appointment of Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt as NRCS Chief.
Farm Bill and Conservation Program Updates
The NRCS team summarized local workgroup priorities, with special attention to challenges like population growth and its impact on water quality, drought, and feral hog damage. They also addressed payment rates, soil amendments, and the pace between applications and funding.
Key program highlights included:
- Spending plans for EQIP, CSP, and ACEP by the end of FY2025.
- Updates on National Water Quality Initiative sign-up deadlines.
- Progress on ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements and Agricultural Land Easements.
- Discussion of RCPP project areas and implementation delays due to manual obligations.
Agency Collaboration
The meeting featured agency updates from:
- Farm Service Agency (FSA), discussing CRP sign-ups, Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) status, and specialty crop assistance.
- Rural Development (RD), providing updates on funding and staffing changes.
Gulf RESTORE Act Opportunities
Kyle Wright from NRCS shared updates on projects funded by the RESTORE Act and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), particularly focusing on nutrient reduction in agricultural lands. Stakeholders were encouraged to propose project areas for future NRDA funding.
Subcommittee Reports
Subcommittees provided insights into specific conservation areas:
- Forestry: Highlighted carbon capture rates and emphasized the need for more prescribed burning.
- Water Resources: Discussed HUC12 watershed changes and updates to wetland assessment models.
- Wildlife: Recommended changes to practices supporting endangered species like the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Houston Toad, and advocated for more prescribed burning training.
Stakeholder Engagement
As Chief Executive Officer for the Farmer Veteran Coalition, I attended to highlight the important role that Veterans and beginning farmers play in shaping conservation practices and policies in Texas. It is our goal that Farmer Veteran members’ voices are included in key discussions about the future of Texas agriculture.
Nonprofits and Loan Funds
These organizations offer low-interest or flexible financing with strong technical support.
Mission-driven lenders like Kiva U.S. offer 0% interest microloans up to $15,000 for beginning farmers, often supported through crowdfunding. The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund helps farmers access affordable land through lease-to-own arrangements, preserving farmland for future generations. RSF Social Finance provides funding for regenerative, organic, and socially responsible agricultural enterprises. These lenders prioritize impact over profit, expanding access to capital for underserved and values-driven farmers.
Open Discussion
Stakeholders raised important concerns, including:
- The need for more funding and faster responses for water conservation and disaster relief.
- Challenges with insurance for prescribed fire implementation.
- Clarification around Conservation Crop Rotation and its water conservation impacts.
- Questions about Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking consistency and Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) status.
- Opportunities and limitations for virtual fencing technology.
Moving Forward
The Texas STC continues to play a critical role in shaping conservation efforts across the state. Through collaboration and open dialogue, Texas agricultural producers, agencies, and conservationists work together to ensure that USDA programs meet the real-world needs of our farms, ranches, and forests. By sharing technical information, identifying local priorities, and leveraging federal resources, the STC helps build a resilient and sustainable agricultural future for Texas.
If you’re interested in joining the Texas State Technical Committee or learning more about its work, reach out to the NRCS Texas State Office. Your voice matters in shaping the conservation programs that support our state’s land, water, and communities.
About Farmer Veteran Coalition
Based in Waco, Texas, the National Farmer Veteran Coalition empowers Veterans to build meaningful careers in agriculture. FVC offers resources, training, and support to help them transition into farming or agricultural employment. Through education, mentorship, and partnerships, FVC creates economic opportunities, fosters sustainability, and enables Veterans to continue serving by strengthening American agriculture and their communities.
Established in 2009, some of FVC’s in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown By Heroes label for Veteran-grown products, MarketMaker, Hives Training Program, Fields4Valor Food Security Program, and the national stakeholders conference. For more information, visit www.farmvetco.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@farmvetcoalition/videos.
