About Us

Find a Service Center

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Agroforestry -- A system of agriculture that combines traditional agriculture and forestry technologies to create a more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land use system.

B Top of Page

C Top of Page

CADD -- Computer Aided Drafting and Design, usually refers to software which is used to produce high quality designs.

CBI -- Conservation Buffer Initiative, CBI is a national NRCS initiative to encourage the establishment of conservation buffers. Conservation buffers are areas of vegetation planted between an area capable of producing sediments and other pollutants and environmentally sensitive areas such as water bodies. These buffers reduce the pollutants reaching the sensitive areas and also provide habitat diversity.

Computer Aided Drafting and Design -- Computer Aided Drafting and Design usually refers to software which is used to produce high quality designs.

Conservation Buffer Initiative -- Conservation Buffer Initiative is a national NRCS initiative to encourage the establishment of conservation buffers. Conservation buffers are areas of vegetation planted between an area capable of producing sediments and other pollutants and environmentally sensitive areas such as water bodies. These buffers reduce the pollutants reaching the sensitive areas and also provide habitat diversity.

Conservation District -- A public organization created under state-enabling law as a special-purpose district to develop and carry out a program of soil, water, and related resource conservation, use and development within its boundaries; in the United States usually a subdivision of a state government with a local governing body; often called a resource conservation district (RCD), soil conservation district, or a soil and water conservation district. [Soil Conservation Society of America (SCSA), Resource Conservation Glossary, 1982]

Conservation Practice -- A specific treatment, such as a structural or vegetative measure or management technique commonly used to meet specific needs in planning and conservation, for which standards and specifications have been developed. Conservation practices are in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV, which is based on the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. (NPPH-98).

Conservation Reserve Program -- Conservation Reserve Program provides payments to landowners to remove environmentally sensitive lands from agricultural production and instead establish protective permanent vegetative cover of grass, trees, or wildlife habitat.

Conservation Technical Assistance -- Conservation Technical Assistance is a program which provides the expertise of our conservationists, technicians, and engineers to landowners for the planning and implementation of natural resource conservation practices.

CRP -- Conservation Reserve Program provides payments to landowners to remove environmentally sensitive lands from agricultural production and instead establish protective permanent vegetative cover of grass, trees, or wildlife habitat.

CTA -- Conservation Technical Assistance, CTA is a program which provides the expertise of our conservationists, technicians, and engineers to landowners for the planning and implementation of natural resource conservation practices.

Cultural Resources -- Cultural Resources are those relics which have been left behind by the cultures which have preceded us. They may include ancient petroglyph drawings, arrowheads, and historic buildings, among others.

D Top of Page

Department of Natural Resources -- The Department of Natural Resources, as used on this website, refers to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The agency of Missouri state government has responsibilities in areas of soil, water, air, and other natural resources of the state.

DNR -- Department of Natural Resources, DNR as used on this website, refers to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The agency of Missouri state government has responsibilities in areas of soil, water, air, and other natural resources of the state.

E Top of Page

Earth Team -- The Earth Team is a group of dedicated individuals who volunteer their time to assist the professional employees of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These individuals will engage in a variety of tasks, depending on their interests and abilities to aid in the conservation effort.

Effective Neutralizing Material -- Effective Neutralizing Material is a measure of the effectiveness of agricultural limestone. The effectiveness of the limestone will vary depending on the fineness of the grind and the purity of the product.

Emergency Watershed Protection -- The Emergency Watershed Protection program provides technical and financial assistance to restore the functions of a watershed following catastrophic events. This program is frequently used to restore flood prevention structures following a flood event.

ENM -- Effective Neutralizing Material, ENM is a measure of the effectiveness of agricultural limestone. The effectiveness of the limestone will vary depending on the fineness of the grind and the purity of the product.

Environment Quality Incentives Program -- The Environmental Quality Incentives Program offers financial, educational and technical assistance to help install or implement conservation practices in 5- to 10-year contracts.

EQIP -- Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP offers financial, educational and technical assistance to help install or implement conservation practices in 5- to 10-year contracts.

Erosion -- The wearing away of the land surface by running water, waves, or moving ice and wind, or by such processes as mass wasting and corrosion (solution and other chemical processes). The term "geologic erosion" refers to natural erosion processes occurring over long (geologic) time spans. "Accelerated erosion" generically refers to erosion that exceeds what is presumed or estimated to be naturally occurring levels, and which is a direct result of human activities (e.g., cultivation and logging). [NSSH-96]

EWP -- Emergency Watershed Protection, the EWP program provides technical and financial assistance to restore the functions of a watershed following catastrophic events. This program is frequently used to restore flood prevention structures following a flood event.

F Top of Page

Farm Service Agency -- The Farm Service Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. This agency administers many programs which assist landowners to conserve the natural resources on private lands.

Field Office Service Area -- The services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided to Missouri landowners through Field Office Service Areas. These are groups of counties with similar resource settings and concerns which are serviced by one or more serrvice centers. Personnel working in a FOSA share expertise with other offices in the same FOSA.

Field Office Technical Guide -- The Missouri Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the basic technical reference for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri. This reference is used by technically trained persons in NRCS to assist private land owners and others plan and implement resource management systems that protect and develop Missouri's soil, water, air, plant and animal resources.

FIP -- Forestry Incentives Program, FIP is a statewide forestry program which provides funds to plant trees and improve woodlands on private land.

Forestry Incentives Program -- Forestry Incentives Program is a statewide forestry program which provides funds to plant trees and improve woodlands on private land.

FOSA -- Field Office Service Area. The services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided to Missouri landowners through Field Office Service Areas. These are groups of counties with similar resource settings and concerns which are serviced by one or more serrvice centers. Personnel working in a FOSA share expertise with other offices in the same FOSA.

FOTG -- Field Office Technical Guide. The Missouri Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the basic technical reference for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri. This reference is used by technically trained persons in NRCS to assist private land owners and others plan and implement resource management systems that protect and develop Missouri's soil, water, air, plant and animal resources.

FSA -- Farm Service Agency. The Farm Service Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. This agency administers many programs which assist landowners to conserve the natural resources on private lands.

G Top of Page

Geographic Information System -- A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies.

GLCI --Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative's mission is to provide high quality technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands on a voluntary basis, and to increase the awareness of the importance of grazing land resourses.

Global Positioning System -- Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation and positioning system. Receivers in conjuction with fixed orbit satellites are used to determine a location on the earth.

GIS -- Geographic Information System. A geographic information system is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies.

GPS -- Global Positioning System, GPS is a space-based navigation and positioning system. Receivers in conjuction with fixed orbit satellites are used to determine a location on the earth.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative -- The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative's mission is to provide high quality technical assistance on privately owned grazing lands on a voluntary basis, and to increase the awareness of the importance of grazing land resourses.

H Top of Page

HU -- Hydrologic Unit. A Hydrologic Unit is a geographic area defined by the surface waters which all flow to a common point. Hydrologic Units are identified by a hiarchial system of numbers.

Hydrologic Unit -- A Hydrologic Unit is a geographic area defined by the surface waters which all flow to a common point. Hydrologic Units are identified by a hiarchial system of numbers.

MDC -- Missouri Department of Conservation, MDC is the Missouri state agency whose mission it is to protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state.

Missouri Department of Conservation -- Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is the Missouri state agency whose mission it is to protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state.

N Top of Page

NASIS -- National Soil Information System, NASIS is the core component of a vision which shifts the focus of the National Cooperative Soil Survey from the production of static printed soil survey reports to providing a dynamic resource of soils information for a wide range of needs. and is designed to manage and maintain soil data from collection to dissemination.

National Agroforestry Center -- An USDA partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Center's purpose is to accelerate the development and application of agroforestry technologies to attain more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable land use systems.

National Cooperative Soil Survey -- The National Cooperative Soil Survey Program (NCSS) is a partnership led by NRCS of Federal land management agencies, state agricultural experiment stations and state and local units of government that provide soil survey information necessary for understanding, managing, conserving and sustaining the nation's limited soil resources.

National Resources Inventory --National Resources Inventory (NRI) is an inventory conducted every five years to assess the conditions and trends of the nations soil and water related resources on non-Federal land. These resources include land use and land cover, soil erosion, prime farmland and wetlands.

National Soil Information System -- National Soil Information System (NASIS) is the core component of a vision which shifts the focus of the National Cooperative Soil Survey from the production of static printed soil survey reports to providing a dynamic resource of soils information for a wide range of needs. and is designed to manage and maintain soil data from collection to dissemination.

Natural Resources Conservation Service -- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the Federal agency in the United States Department of Agriculture which provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment.

NCSS -- National Cooperative Soil Survey program, NCSS is a partnership led by NRCS of Federal land management agencies, state agricultural experiment stations and state and local units of government that provide soil survey information necessary for understanding, managing, conserving and sustaining the nation's limited soil resources.

NRCS -- Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS is the Federal agency in the United States Department of Agriculture which provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment.

NRI --National Resources Inventory, NRI is an inventory conducted every five years to assess the conditions and trends of the nations soil and water related resources on non-Federal land. These resources include land use and land cover, soil erosion, prime farmland and wetlands.

O Top of Page

P Top of Page

PL-566 -- Public Law 566 of the 83rd Congress, also known as the Small Watershed Program. This program works through local government sponsors and helps participants solve natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. Projects include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres.

Plant Materials Center Program -- Plants Materials Centers and Specialists provide state-of-the-art technology to help field offices and land users solve critical natural resource issues. The Plant Materials Program strives to meet the challenge by: a) developing new technology for current conservation needs, and b) transferring this information to its customers.

PLS -- Pure Live Seed, PLS is a measure of the amount of seed which, when planted can be expected to grow into the desired plant. PLS takes into account the germination and hard seed percentages of the seed lot plus the amount of foreign matter and other seeds.

PMC -- Plants Materials Centers and Specialists provide state-of-the-art technology to help field offices and land users solve critical natural resource issues. The Plant Materials Program strives to meet the challenge by: a) developing new technology for current conservation needs, and b) transferring this information to its customers.

Public Law 83-566 -- Public Law 566 of the 83rd Congress, also known as the Small Watershed Program. This program works through local government sponsors and helps participants solve natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. Projects include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres.

Pure Live Seed -- Pure Live Seed (PLS) is a measure of the amount of seed which, when planted can be expected to grow into the desired plant. PLS takes into account the germination and hard seed percentages of the seed lot plus the amount of foreign matter and other seeds.

Q Top of Page

Quality Criteria -- Quality Criteria establish the minimum treatment levels necessary to adequately address the resource concerns that are identified during the planning process for development of a Resource Management System.

R Top of Page

Rangeland -- A Land cover/use category on which the climax or potential plant cover is composed principally of native grasses, grasslike plants, forbs or shrubs suitable for grazing and browsing, and introduced forage species that are managed like rangeland. This would include areas where introduced hardy and persistent grasses, such as crested wheatgrass, are planted and such practices as deferred grazing, burning, chaining, and rotational grazing are used, with little or no chemicals or fertilizer being applied. Grasslands, savannas, many wetlands, some deserts, and tundra are considered to be rangeland. Certain communities of low forbs and shrubs, such as mesquite, chaparral, mountain shrub, and pinyon-juniper, are also included as rangeland. [NRI-97]

RC&D -- Resource Conservation and Development, the purpose of the RC&D program is to accelerate the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, improve the general level of economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living in authorized RC&D areas. It improves the capability of State, tribal and local units of government and local nonprofit organizations in rural areas to plan, develop and carry out programs for resource conservation and development.

Resource Conservation and Development -- The purpose of the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program is to accelerate the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, improve the general level of economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living in authorized RC&D areas. It improves the capability of State, tribal and local units of government and local nonprofit organizations in rural areas to plan, develop and carry out programs for resource conservation and development.

Resource Management System -- Resource Management System (RMS) is a combination of conservation practices working together that, when applied, will resolve all of the identified resource problems. An RMS requires that all resources be treated to the identified quality criteria level.

Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation -- The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is an erosion model predicting longtime average annual soil loss resulting from raindrop splash and runoff.

RMS -- Resource Management System, an RMS is a combination of conservation practices working together that, when applied, will resolve all of the identified resource problems. An RMS requires that all resources be treated to the identified quality criteria level.

RUSLE -- The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, RUSLE is an erosion model predicting longtime average annual soil loss resulting from raindrop splash and runoff.

S Top of Page

Sheet and Rill Erosion -- The removal of layers of soil from the land surface by the action of rainfall and runoff. It is the first stage in water erosion. [NAM-88]

Soil and Water Conservation District -- Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide technical and financial assistance to help landowners better care for their land. These districts are governed by locally elected boards and have employees available to help landowners design conservation plans to determine how to best use the resources on their farms. These plans include the conservation measures needed to solve the soil and water conservation problems.

Soil Survey -- The systematic examination, description, classification, and mapping of soils in an area. The USDA- NRCS Soil Survey Program produces Soil Survey Reports, which generally consist of four principal parts: (1) maps, (2) a map legend, (3) a description of the soils in the survey area, and (4) a use and management report. The survey area commonly is a single county but may comprise parts of counties, physiographic regions, or other management areas. [National Soil Survey Handbook (NSSH), revised, 1996]

Soil Survey Geographic Database -- Field mapping methods using national standards are used to construct the soil maps in the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data base. Mapping scales generally range from 1:12,000 to 1:63,360; SSURGO is the most detailed level of soil mapping done by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). SSURGO digitizing duplicates the original soil survey maps. This level of mapping is designed for use by landowners, townships, and county natural resource planning and management. The user should be knowledgeable of soils data and their characteristics.

SSURGO -- Soil Survey Geographic Database. Field mapping methods using national standards are used to construct the soil maps in the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data base. Mapping scales generally range from 1:12,000 to 1:63,360; SSURGO is the most detailed level of soil mapping done by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). SSURGO digitizing duplicates the original soil survey maps. This level of mapping is designed for use by landowners, townships, and county natural resource planning and management. The user should be knowledgeable of soils data and their characteristics.

State Soil Geographic Database -- Soil maps for the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) data base are made by generalizing the detailed soil survey data. The mapping scale for STATSGO map is 1:250,000 (with the exception of Alaska, which is 1:1,000,000). The level of mapping is designed to be used for broad planning and management uses covering state, regional, and multi-state areas.

STATSGO -- State Soil Geographic Database. Soil maps for the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) data base are made by generalizing the detailed soil survey data. The mapping scale for STATSGO map is 1:250,000 (with the exception of Alaska, which is 1:1,000,000). The level of mapping is designed to be used for broad planning and management uses covering state, regional, and multi-state areas.

SWCD -- Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide technical and financial assistance to help landowners better care for their land. These districts are governed by locally elected boards and have employees available to help landowners design conservation plans to determine how to best use the resources on their farms. These plans include the conservation measures needed to solve the soil and water conservation problems.

T Top of Page

U Top of Page

United States Department of Agriculture -- The United States Department of Agriculture is the department of the federal executive branch which assists America's farmers and ranchers. But we also do much more--

USDA leads the Federal anti-hunger effort with the Food Stamp, School Lunch, School Breakfast, and the WIC Programs.

USDA is the steward of our nation's 192 million acres of national forests and rangelands.

USDA is the country's largest conservation agency, encouraging voluntary efforts to protect soil, water, and wildlife on the 70 percent of America's lands that are in private hands.

USDA brings housing, modern telecommunications, and safe drinking water to rural America.

USDA is responsible for the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products.

USDA is a research leader in everything from human nutrition to new crop technologies that allow us to grow more food and fiber using less water and pesticides.

USDA helps ensure open markets for U.S. agricultural products and provides food aid to needy people overseas.

Universal Soil Loss Equation -- The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) enables planners to predict the average rate of soil erosion for each feasible alternative combination of crop system and management practices in association with a specified soil type, rainfall pattern, and topography. The USLE has been largely superceded by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for most applications.

USLE -- The Universal Soil Loss Equation, USLE enables planners to predict the average rate of soil erosion for each feasible alternative combination of crop system and management practices in association with a specified soil type, rainfall pattern, and topography. The USLE has been largely superceded by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for most applications.