---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3812a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3812a"
heading: "Development and implementation of conservation plans and conservation systems"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3812a"
units:
  - "Chapter 58 — Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation and Reserve Program"
  - "Subchapter II — Highly Erodible Land Conservation"
---

# §3812a. Development and implementation of conservation plans and conservation systems

- (a) **Technical requirements—** In connection with the standards and guidelines contained in Natural Resources Conservation Service [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9) office technical guides applicable to the development and use of conservation measures and management practices as part of a [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall ensure that the standards and guidelines permit a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) to use a [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) that—
  - (1) is technically and economically feasible;
  - (2) is based on local resource conditions and available conservation technology;
  - (3) is cost-effective; and
  - (4) does not cause undue economic hardship on the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) applying the [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) under the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3).
- (b) **Measurement of erosion reduction—** For the purpose of determining whether there is a substantial reduction in soil erosion on a [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9) containing [highly erodible cropland](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-10), the measurement of erosion reduction achieved by the application of a [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) under a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) shall be based on the estimated annual level of erosion at the time of the measurement compared to the estimated annual level of erosion that existed before the implementation of the conservation measures and management practices provided for in the [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4).
- (c) **Residue measurement—**
  - (1) **Responsibilities of the Secretary—** For the purpose of measuring the level of residue on a [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall—
    - (A) [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account any residue incorporated into the top 2 inches of soil, as well as the growing crop, in the measurement;
    - (B) provide technical guidelines for acceptable residue measurement methods;
    - (C) provide a certification system for third parties to perform residue measurements; and
    - (D) provide for the acceptance and use of information and data voluntarily provided by the producer regarding the [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9).
  - (2) **Acceptance of producer measurements—** Annual residue measurements supplied by a producer (including measurements performed by a certified third party) shall be used by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) if the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) determines that the measurements indicate that the residue level for the [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9) meets the level required under the [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3).
- (d) **Certification of compliance—**
  - (1) **In general—** For the purpose of determining the eligibility of a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) for program benefits specified in [section 3811 of this title](/usc/16/3811.md) at the time application is made for the benefits, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall permit the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) to certify that the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) is complying with the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3).
  - (2) **Status reviews—** If a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) makes a certification under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall not be required to carry out a review of the status of compliance of the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) with the [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) under which the [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) is being applied.
  - (3) **Revisions and modifications—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall permit a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) who makes a certification under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) with respect to a [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) to revise the [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) in any manner, if the same level of conservation treatment provided for by the [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) under the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) is maintained. The [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) may not revise the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) without the concurrence of the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19).
  - (4) **Crop insurance premium assistance—** For the purpose of determining the eligibility of a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) for the payment described in [section 3811(a)(1)(E) of this title](/usc/16/3811.md?p=a-1-E), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall apply the procedures described in [section 3821(c)(3)(E) of this title](/usc/16/3821.md?p=c-3-E) and coordinate the certification process so as to avoid duplication or unnecessary paperwork.
- (e) **Technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) shall, using available resources and consistent with the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21)’s other conservation responsibilities and objectives, provide [technical assistance](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-25) to a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) throughout the development, revision, and application of the [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) and any [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) of the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19). At the request of the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19), the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) may provide [technical assistance](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-25) regarding conservation measures and management practices for other lands of the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) that do not contain [highly erodible cropland](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-10).
- (f) **Encouragement of on-farm research—** To encourage on-farm conservation research, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) may allow a [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) to include in the [person](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19)’s [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) or a [conservation system](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-4) under the plan, on a [field](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-9) trial basis, practices that are not currently approved but that the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) considers have a reasonable likelihood of success.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1213, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 315(a)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 984; amended Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2611(a)(3), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 763.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1213 of Pub. L. 99–198 was renumbered section 1214 and is classified to section 3813 of this title.

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 113–79 added par. (4).