The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are two separate agencies within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with distinct roles and responsibilities. [[Directory of Funding Programs]] The main differences between the FSA and NRCS are as follows: #### Primary Responsibilities: * **Farm Service Agency (FSA):** The primary responsibility of the FSA is to administer farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and related programs to support agricultural producers and landowners. It handles programs related to crop insurance, farm loans, commodity price support, and farm safety net programs. * **National Resource Conservation Service NRCS:** The NRCS is responsible for providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners to help them implement conservation practices on their land. Its primary focus is on promoting natural resource conservation, including soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife. #### Financial Assistance: * **FSA**: The FSA provides direct payments, loan programs, and other financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers. For example, it administers the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). * **NRCS**: While the NRCS does not provide direct payments, it offers cost-share and incentive payments to help offset the costs of implementing approved conservation practices through its various programs. #### Technical Assistance: * **FSA**: The FSA provides limited technical assistance related to program implementation and compliance. * **NRCS**: The NRCS focuses heavily on providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners, helping them develop and implement conservation plans tailored to their specific needs and land resources. In summary, the FSA primarily deals with farm commodity programs, credit, and financial assistance, while the NRCS concentrates on providing technical assistance and implementing conservation programs to protect and enhance natural resources on agricultural lands.