Introduction to NRCS Field Office Technical Guide

1. Introduction to NRCS Field Office Technical Guide Mark Anderson, Resource Conservationist

2. Field Office Technical Guide • What it is • What it contains • How to access it • How to navigate in it • Look at some items TSPs will use

3. FOTG – What it is It is NRCS’ primary technical reference for conservation planning and application.

4. FOTG – What it contains • Contains information about Soil, Water, Air, Plant, and Animal resources, plus Human considerations (SWAPA+H) • Localized to each county, although many items are applicable State-wide.

5. FOTG – What it contains • General Resource References • Natural Resource Information • Resource Management Systems and Quality Criteria • Conservation Practices (Standards, Design & Documentation instructions) • Conservation Effects

6. FOTG – How to access it • It is on a Web site called the electronic FOTG or eFOTG www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg • Use Internet Explorer; Netscape won’t work.

7. Click on ND in USA map.

10. Navigating eFOTG eFOTG information is arranged in folders and subfolders. Many categories (subfolders) are necessary to keep the huge array of information organized properly. When scrolling in tree menu, use the elevator bar, not the arrows. It doesn’t work to click with pointer between document titles.

11. Finding Cons. Practice info Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment – 380 • Open the Section IV folder. • Open Conservation Practices subfolder. • Open the Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment subfolder.

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16. Hit Refresh icon to activate changed view preference.

24. Searching for information • Search feature in left pane only covers document titles. • The Search/Index button on upper center screen allows search by key words or subjects. It is much more helpful than the left pane search tool.

26. Search Index tab

27. Information about information Information button in upper left part of screen provides info about a selected document or Web site: Title Subject Author(s) Abstract Date Applicable Counties File Size Contact name Key words

28. Click for data about hi-lighted item / Website

30. Thunderbook • A personalized version of eFOTG. • Backup when server or www isn’t working. • User chooses content –Select only eFOTG subfolders or documents you want. • Info routinely updated on user’s hard drive. • User can also maintain personal (non-NRCS) references you develop/choose in your Thunderbook.

31. Thunderbook • For eFOTG and Thunderbook, NRCS National Employee Development Center has on-line training. http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/fotg/ • Go to http://my.nrcs.usda.gov • Your eGov login and password gets U in. • Then click on my.nrcstab to begin. • Click on “My Thunderbook.”

32. eFOTG user tips • Additions and revisions of eFOTG data & documents is a continuous process. • Beware using eFOTG hard copy, due to risk of it being outdated. If you are going to keep hard copy for future reference, you must diligently watch for revisions.

33. More eFOTG user tips: • Changes are posted in the “What’s New” section. They are also announced in the Notices, which are posted in Section I – ND User Guide subfolder. Check them often! • If you want to use hard copy information you download from eFOTG, replace it as soon as revisions are announced!

34. More eFOTG user tips: • A few errors slip by authors and reviewers. Please report errors or suspected errors to mark.anderson@nd.usda.gov or call me if you have questions 701-530-2039.

35. USDA – NRCS, North Dakota • All programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis.