Hays SWCD and the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) - San Marcos has partnered with producers on 8,040 acres of rangeland, 1,185 cropland, and 2,459 acres of pastureland within the county. Other partnerships include helping pollinator habitats, installing seasonal high tunnels, and rainwater collection systems. Twelve Agricultural Conservation Easements have been established under NRCS in Hays County. Other programs to-date have included: eight limited resource producers, 39 beginning farmers and ranchers, three socially disadvantaged producers, and 15 military veteran producers.

Hays County is the backdrop of the division of Hill Country (Edwards Aquifer/Plateau) landscapes west of I-35 and the Blackland Prairies landscapes east of I-35. Hays County has one of the fastest growing populations which results over time in less agricultural land. This makes the NRCS and SWCD’s job even more important. We are also educating new landowners with small acreage about wildlife habitat and proper grazing.