USDA-NRCS Strategies to Decrease Climate Change Impacts on Working Agricultural Lands.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is a federal agency that has worked with agricultural producers to protect soil and water for over 75 years.  Climate change issues (temperature shifts, extreme weather, and droughts) are increasingly impacting producers.  Agency programs address these issues by building resilient agricultural systems, increase sequestration of carbon in soils, mitigate greenhouse gases, and protecting water quality.  These goals are important across all USDA agencies, and NRCS voluntary programs also mesh well with international emphasis on climate smart agriculture that assists producers to adapt proactive management strategies.  NRCS also plays an important role in the USDA Climate Hubs.  These hubs are a direct link for the latest research information on agricultural systems to be disseminated to producers involved with crop production, livestock, pasture and range management, and forestry.   USDA Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry are also an important mechanism to provide program outreach through NRCS conservation practices that increase both mitigation and adaptation on farms and ranches.  This presentation will provide an overview of NRCS actions in these areas.