Technical Service Provider (TSP)

Technical Service Providers (TSPs) are individuals, private businesses, non-profit organizations, or public agencies outside of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that help agricultural producers apply conservation practices on the land. These NRCS-certified professionals provide for convenient access to technical services, quality work, and professional one-on-one technical assistance to landowners or producers who participate in USDA conservation programs.

Two 1-day training sessions will be held on March 28 and 29, 2012 at the University of Maine at Farmington for Technical Service Providers (TSP). Room is still available in the March 29th session. While the focus of the training is forester TSPs, the class will help all potential TSPs meet some of the TSP requirements. Pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis. Please contact Christopher Jones at 207-990-9563 or email chris.jones@me.usda.gov if interested.

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)

Agenda (.pdf)

TSPs and Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) Opportunities

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) authorizes the use of financial assistance funds from the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to develop Conservation Activity Plans (CAP). NRCS in Maine plans to offer "cost-share" to eligible EQIP clients for the development of any of eight CAPS, to be carried out by Technical Service Providers.

The Technical Criteria required to be in a CAP can be found at the Maine NRCS’ Field Office Technical Guide. After clicking anywhere on the Maine map, go to the far left on the next screen and click on "Section III", then click on "E. Conservation Activity Plans Technical Criteria". Proceed to click on the Conservation Activity Plan you are interested in.

Information on the criteria that Technical Service Providers need to meet to be certified for a specific Conservation Activity Plan can be found at the Technical Service Provider Registry site under "View Criteria".

Conservation Activity Plan Information

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Technical Service Provider Registry

TechReg (Technical Service Provider Registry), an NRCS Internet application, is available for Technical Service Providers (TSPs) to register and become certified, and for USDA customers to find certified providers.