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Sociology of Agriculture and Food (SAFRIG)

Needs and opportunities in strengthening the technical assistance system for conservation practice implementation Kristal Jones*, Kristal Jones,

Technical assistance (TA) is a foundational piece of the process of implementing conservation practices in agricultural systems in the United States. Historically, TA has been provided primarily by public agencies and organizations with close institutional ties to federal and state government. As interest in implementing conservation practices has grown over the past two decades, demand for TA has outpaced supply. More recently, funding and structural changes at the federal level have highlighted the tensions associated with federal policies (for things like approved certification, practice guidelines, and bureaucratic requirements) structuring the broader TA system. At the same time, increased interest from the private sector in investing in conservation practices and expanded models of peer-led learning and capacity building among producers themselves has provided examples of alternative modes of TA that could help address the gaps in the formal TA system. This paper provides reflections from a series of assessment projects conducted over the past several years focused on understanding implementation of climate-smart practices and gaps in the TA system to support conservation practice implementation. The overarching thesis statement is that the slow accumulation of challenges in the TA system coupled with recent disruption in federal policy and practice provide opportunities for transformational change that can support innovation and producer wellbeing.