Iowa Resource Conservationist Puts Farmers First

In 2025, one in four USDA Natural Resource Conservation staff accepted early retirement through the Deferred Resignation or Voluntary Early Retirement program. The staff that remain are tasked with providing Conservation Technical Assistance and administering NRCS conservation financial incentive programs which will see increased levels of funding starting in 2027. Despite these reductions, many NRCS staff are working hard to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers at a time when demand still remains higher than the level of funding to support it. Maggie Syversen with Iowa NRCS is doing just that.