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National Agronomy Manual National United States Agronomy Department of Agriculture Natural Manual Resources Conservation Service (190-V-NAM, 3rd Ed., July 2001) i National Agronomy Manual October 2002 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer. ii (190-V-NAM, 3rd Ed., October 2002) Part 500 Authorities, Policies, and Responsibilities Contents: Subpart 500A Authority 500–1 500.00 Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935 ................................. 500–1 500.01 Purpose of the Agronomy Manual .................................................................... 500–1 Subpart 500B Agronomic policies 500–2 500.10 Location of policy ............................................................................................. 500–2 500.11 Amendments to NAM ....................................................................................... 500–2 Subpart 500C Responsibilities of agronomists 500–2 500.20 Responsibilities of national, State, area, and field agronomists ........................ 500–2 500.30 Technical information—preparing, transferring, and training .......................... 500–3 500.40 Certification ...................................................................................................... 500–3 500.50 Affiliation with professional organizations ...................................................... 500–3 (190-V-NAM, 3rd Ed., October 2002) 500–i Part 500 Authorities, Policies, and Responsibilities 500.01 Purpose of the AgronomyManual Subpart 500A Authority The National Agronomy Manual (NAM) contains policy for agronomy activities and provides technical procedures for 500.00 Soil Conservation and Domestic uniform implementation of agronomy tools and applica- Allotment Act of 1935 tions. The basic legislation for soil and water conservation pro- grams by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, Public Law 74–46 of 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-590f). This original act recognized that agronomy, the science of field crop production, is essential in fulfilling the agency’s responsibilities. The Buchanan Amendment to the Agricul- tural Appropriations Bill for FY 1930 (Public Law 70-769) led to the enactment of Public Law 74-46. In 1933, the Soil Erosion Service was established as a temporary agency of the Department of the Interior. The agency was transferred to USDA in 1935 and named the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). In 1994, the Natural Resources Conservation Service was established by Public Law 103–354, the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act (7 U.S.C. 6962). The NRCS combines the authorities of the former Soil Con- servation Service as well as five natural resource conserva- tion cost-share programs previously administered by other USDA agencies. The mission of the NRCS is to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environ- ment. NRCS provides technical assistance through local conservation districts on a voluntary basis to land users, communities, watershed groups, Federal and State agencies, and other cooperators. The agency’s work focuses on ero- sion reduction, water quality improvement, wetland restora- tion and protection, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, range management, stream restoration, water management, and other natural resource problems. 190-V-NAM, 3rd Ed., October 2002) 500–1 Part 500 Authorities, Policies, and National Responsibilities Agronomy Manual Subpart 500B Agronomic policies Subpart 500C Responsibilities of agronomists 500.10 Location of policy Agronomic policies are contained in specific parts and sub- 500.20 Responsibilities of national, State, parts of this National Agronomy Manual as appropriate. area, and field agronomists The national agronomist, nutrient management, and pest 500.11 Amendments to NAM management specialists at the national level, cooperating scientists for agronomy, and agronomists on the institutes The NAM will be amended as needed, as additional re- and center staffs provide staff assistance in all NRCS pro- search is completed, existing methods or procedures are up- grams and provide national leadership on NRCS agronomy dated, or as new technology is developed and approved for related activities. They are responsible for: use in the NRCS. The national agronomist is responsible for • assisting upper management in formulating and updating this manual. recommending national policies, procedures, and standards; • technical leadership and guidance; quality control; • national coordination of agronomy with other NRCS technical fields; and • promoting and maintaining relations with groups and agencies that have common interest in agronomy. State agronomists provide staff assistance to the State Con- servationist for all agronomy and related functions. They are responsible for: • Assisting in developing State policies, procedures, and instructions, and coordinating them with other States within the region. • Providing technical leadership and guidance to other agronomists and appropriate personnel within the State. • Collaborating with other State staff members to ensure interdisciplinary action in all NRCS programs. • Training field personnel. • Participating in agronomy components of appraisals and reviews. • Maintaining working relations with research centers and other cooperating agencies. • Developing and revising of all aspects of Field Office Technical Guides related to agronomy. • Providing assistance in interdisciplinary technical reviews of project plans, environmental impact statements, and other technical materials. • Coordinating agronomy functions with other States in the region and across regional boundaries as appro- priate. 500–2 (190-V-NAM, 3rd Ed., October 2002) Part 500 Authorities, Policies, and National Responsibilities Agronomy Manual Area or zone agronomists provide staff assistance in all Agronomists receive and provide training necessary to NRCS programs. They are responsible for carrying out the maintain technical competency at all administrative levels. requirements of conservation agronomy consistent with Training includes but is not limited to National Employee technical proficiency, training, interdisciplinary action, and Development Courses, workshops, conferences, and univer- quality control within their administrative area. In some sity courses. cases, these agronomists may carry out some of the respon- sibilities of the state agronomists if so delegated. 500.40 Certification Field office agronomists are usually in training positions. Training is provided by agronomists at the area or State Agronomists at all levels of the agency are encouraged to level. obtain professional certification(s). Examples of certifica- tion programs include the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Agronomists in the above positions may provide specific and Certified Professional Agronomists (CPAg) under functions through team or ad hoc assignments at a national, ARCPACS of the American Society of Agronomy, Certi- regional, or State level. fied Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and Each agronomist has the responsibility to develop their state pesticide applicator licenses. Continuing educational training needs inventory and to work with their supervisor requirements of most certification programs provide excel- to obtain technical training to improve their overall agro- lent opportunities to stay abreast of advances in technology. nomic expertise. Standards of performance for agronomists are contained in 500.50 Affiliation with professional organi- the NRCS Personnel Manual. zations Agronomists at all levels are encouraged to be active mem- 500.30 Technical information—preparing, bers of professional scientific societies, such as the Ameri- transferring, and training can Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, the Soil and Water Con- Agronomists use technical information that has been devel- servation Society. These organizations provide opportuni- oped at centers, institutes, national, or State level and main- ties to interact with researchers at the national and State tain technical materials for the administrative area they level and to stay current on the latest technology. serve. State staff agronomists develop and review field of- fice technical guide materials and ensure materials are tech- nically correct, comprehensive, and useful to the end user. NRCS policy on preparing and maintaining technical guides is in Title 450-GM, Part 401. In addition, state agronomists are responsible for technical notes and other agronomy technical materials that are applicable to the State. Agronomists issue technical information at the area, state, or national level. This may include original information,
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