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Conservation Practice Standards

On this page find links to national conservation practice standards and supporting documents.

Overview

Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) are the official NRCS technical documents that define the minimum science based criteria for planning, designing, installing, and maintaining each conservation practice. Each standard outlines what the practice is, why and where it is applied, and the quality requirements needed for it to function as intended. CPS ensure that conservation work across the country is delivered with consistency, technical integrity, and measurable benefits to soil, water, air, plants, animals, and energy resources. 

Because natural resource conditions vary widely, NRCS develops national standards that set the baseline requirements, and each state adapts these standards through its Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) to address local soils, climate, topography, and regulations. State level standards may be more restrictive but cannot be less stringent than the national version. Most CPS are supported by additional tools—including overviews, Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE) worksheets, and network diagrams—to help landowners and planners understand conservation effects and implement practices effectively. 

Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, animals (domestic and wild), and energy resources, while acknowledging related human considerations. Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared. These documents are referred to as Field Office Technical Guides (FOTGs).

What follows on this webpage makes up Section 4 in a Field Office Technical Guide. To find these documents at the local level, visit our FOTG website.

Resources

Below, you will find links to all USDA NRCS Conservation Practice Standards. You can also find these standards by state on our FOTG website.

In addition to conservation practice standards, most of the practices below include overviews, conservation practice physical effects worksheets, and network diagrams. Learn more about the information provided by the standards and supporting documents.

Shaping the Future of Conservation 

CPS Roundtables

A USDA-NRCS CPS Roundtable is an interactive, informal meeting where producers and land stewards provide direct, field-based feedback to NRCS – discussing real-world experiences with CPS and identifying opportunities for improvement. These conversations create a collaborative space to share insights, strengthen understanding and ensure CPS materials remain practical, science-based, and responsive to the needs of the people using them in the field.

Take Our Survey

Have a Minute? Help shape future conservation tools.

CPS surveys help NRCS understand how employees, partners, and producers use Conservation Practice Standards so we can continue improving access, clarity, and usability. By gathering feedback directly from the people who rely on CPS in their daily work, these surveys inform updates to the CPS website, supporting materials, and overall user experience. This ensures the tools we provide remain effective, relevant, and responsive to real conservation planning needs. Share your experience – tell us what’s working, what doesn’t and why. We want to hear from you.

Take the survey
 

NOTICE — National conservation practice standards should not be used to plan, design or install a conservation practice. You must use the conservation practice standard adopted and modified for use by the state in which you are working to ensure that you meet all state and local criteria, which may be more restrictive than national criteria.

In addition to conservation practice standards, most of the practices below include overviews, conservation practice physical effects worksheets, and network diagrams. Learn more about the information provided by the standards and supporting documents.

Watch our Conservation at Work video series to hear about the benefits of conservation practices directly from the farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners applying them.

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