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Abstract.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses 169 Conservation Practice Standards (CPSs) to plan, design, install, operate, and maintain conservation practices on farms and ranches. Conservation Practice Standards are developed on a national level, then modified as needed when adopted by each State. To reduce the time required for this process, NRCS has developed a Conservation Practice Documents-Document Management System (CPD-DMS) to store, write, manage, and publish conservation practice standards and documents. Within the CPD-DMS, the Quark Authoring Platform will be used to automate many of the processes that currently are handled manually. Modifications needed by the States will also be made within the system. Both national and State modifications can be easily documented. NRCS estimates that a substantial savings in staff time will result from conversion to the CPD-DMS, which will allow staff to provide additional assistance to farmers and ranchers across the country.