Tipton County Soil Conservation District

04/24/2026

News Release
Earth Team Volunteers Help USDA Conservation Agency to Protect Tennessee’s Natural Resources
Nashville, Tennessee, April 20, 2026 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leaders and employees honor Earth Team volunteers and celebrate their numerous contributions to protecting Tennessee’s natural resources during National Volunteer Week, April 19 – 25, 2026.
The Earth Team volunteer program allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to provide diverse services to agricultural producers, private landowners and the public. These activities include conservation technical assistance, office support and conservation education through community projects.
“The amount of time an Earth Team volunteer donates is critical to helping NRCS in Tennessee achieve its mission of helping people help the land,” said State Conservationist Sheldon Hightower. “Whether a volunteer donates a month, a year, or a lifetime, those hours matter cumulatively because they stretch our human resources and enable us to do even more.”
In 2025, Earth Team volunteers in Tennessee contributed more than 217 hours to support the agency’s mission and its critical conservation work. Volunteer efforts allow NRCS to offer more conservations services to farmers and ranchers throughout the state. Tennessee provided about $7,550.00 of benefits to NRCS customers and taxpayers in 2025.
The Earth Team volunteer program helps its participants expand their skills and knowledge through community projects. The program also offers participants community service hours, earned academic credit and an unpaid internship in federal service. Those interested in volunteering can visit the Earth Team program webpage to sign up for volunteer opportunities in your community or to learn more about the program.
If interested, please call 901-622-5330.

03/30/2026

TREE GIVE-AWAY

Trees Available
Northern Red Oak
Persimmon
S**g Bark Hickory
Native Sweet Pecan Trees Available

April 2, 2026

Time: 8:00-12:00

While Supplies Last

Please come in and see us about all your conservation needs.

Tipton County Soil Conservation District
2043 Hwy 51 South, Covington, TN
(located in the back at of the Gateway School Building)

09/23/2025

Local Work Group Meeting
Monday, October 6, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
The LWG lets local agencies and individuals have input into the EQIP Program and discuss changes for FY2026. The meeting will be held in the conference room at The Tipton County Soil and Water Conservation District/ NRCS office. We are located at 2043 Highway 51 South, Covington, TN 38019.
For Questions, please call Ethan Pipkin, District Conservationist, at 901-475-3350, ext. 3

06/23/2025

TDA FY 2026 Sign-up

TDA FY 2026 sign-up for cost share assistance will be July 1, 2025 – July 11, 2025.

Funds are limited and applications will be approved according to the date you sign up (first come first serve.)

Tipton County Soil and Water Conservation District will notify applicants of approval.

Applications must be approved prior to implementation.

No applications will be accepted after the sign-up deadline.

03/26/2025

TREE GIVE-AWAY


Chestnut Oak, Persimmon, and Native Sweet Pecan Trees Available

April 11, 2025
Begins at 8:00
While Supplies Last
Tipton County Soil Conservation District
2043 Hwy 51 South, Covington, TN
(located in the back at of the Gateway School Building)

06/11/2024

03/11/2024

Come see us Thursday !
Persimmon
Pecan
White Oak
While supplies last !

03/15/2023

**********TREE GIVE-AWAY**********

Friday, April 7, 2023

We will have Overcup Oak, Elderberry and Mulberry Trees.

Begins at 8:00
While Supplies Last

Tipton County Soil Conservation District (located at 2043 Hwy 51 South in the NRCS/USDA Building)

Have you ever wondered what we do here at Tipton County SCD/NRCS?
We will have an Outreach Coordinator from the State here to answer any questions you have about our programs

02/23/2023

NRCS Tennessee announces March 23 application deadline for FY 2023 CSP Classic
NASHVILLE, February 10, 2023 – NRCS Tennessee State Conservationist Sheldon Hightower announced the fiscal year 2023 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic application deadline. Tennessee agricultural producers who wish to be considered for funding this fiscal year should apply by Thursday, March 23, 2023.
“Through CSP, NRCS helps farmers and ranchers earn payments for maintaining their current level of conservation across their entire operation,” said Hightower. “CSP also provides the opportunity for farm operators to expand their conservation activities by adopting new technologies and management techniques.”
CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. The program is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forestland, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe. Farmsteads and other associated agricultural lands are also included. CSP also provides specific support for organic and transitioning to organic producers.
To be eligible, contract participants must meet Farm Bill Program eligibility in conjunction with the Farm Service Agency, which includes meeting the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Compliance requirements and the Adjusted Gross Income limits.
Applicants must also:
• Control or own eligible land;
• Develop an NRCS CSP plan of operations;
• Provide a map(s) that identifies and delineates the boundaries of all eligible land uses and acres included in their operation; and
• Identify any ineligible land that is part of their operation.
While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure their operations are considered for FY 2023 funding.
Producers looking to increase their level of conservation across their operation can apply for CSP at their local USDA Service Center.
For more information about the CSP program, contact Robert Boettcher, Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at [email protected] or 615-277-2544.
Please visit the NRCS Tennessee website here.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender

11/14/2022

Elaine Watkins and I had the pleasure of presenting two awards today to the sweetest girls. They were so excited to receive the awards. We have a poster contest and we had a First Place Winner Jakyra Williams and Second Place winner , Mariyah Williams. They are both in the fourth grade . Congratulations girls !!!