National Bulletin:	290-23-4	Date:	March 7, 2023
Subject:	INV – 2023 National Resources Inventory Grazing Lands Onsite Data Collection Timelines

Action Required By: October 31, 2023

Purpose. This national bulletin provides information regarding the 2023 National Resources Inventory (NRI) grazing land onsite data collection on non-Federal and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal land.

Expiration Date. December 31, 2023

Background. Per 290 GM 400, states are responsible for coordinating, collecting, and reviewing NRI data collection, which includes grazing land onsite survey data for non-Federal pastureland, non-Federal rangeland, and BLM-managed Federal rangeland. Lists of the sample sites selected for NRI grazing land onsite surveys are provided to states to assist with planning. Aerial photo maps of the sample sites are also provided.

Explanation. The 2023 NRI grazing land onsite data will be collected on non-Federal pasturelands in the 48 coterminous states, non-Federal rangelands in 20 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming), and BLM-managed Federal rangeland in 12 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Lists of sample segments for the 2023 NRI grazing land onsite data collection on non-Federal pastureland and, where applicable, non-Federal rangeland and BLM-managed Federal rangeland are provided to states. NRCS is committed to honoring its agreement with the BLM to carry out data collection on their land in accordance with established protocols in a timely manner.

Data collection will begin March 1, 2023, and continue until September 30, 2023, depending on location. There are three collection windows, as shown in the attachment. Where conditions necessitate it, data collection may occur up to 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after the allowed window shown on the attachment. States with questions about segment collection timelines should use best judgement on local vegetative growth patterns or consult with Erik Suffridge (erik.suffridge@usda.gov).

In FY 2023, states must use the Trimble TDC600 handheld devices (or other preapproved Android device) and the NRI CASI Android app. Support for the old Windows Mobile devices and software will end February 28, 2023. Information about FY 2023 training opportunities will be provided by the FPAC-Employee Development Section, through AgLearn, or from the national program leader as appropriate.

The importance of quality assurance in the data collection and review processes cannot be overstated. Quality assurance in the data collection and data review processes is only superseded in importance by the safety of the employees during the data collection and the confidentiality of all data and locations. States must complete all data reviews for quality assurance by October 31, 2023. These data reviews are extremely important as they provide a state-level, local review of the data that was collected before the data is analyzed and released for approved use in support of the agency’s science-based technical mission. Technical assistance is available throughout the NRI grazing lands data collection process from technical experts located at the Iowa State University Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (nri-graze-help@iastate.edu) and from NRCS regional grazing land specialists located at each of the agency’s national technical support centers.

Contact. Direct questions to Erik Suffridge, NRI Grazing Land Onsite National Leader (erik.suffridge@usda.gov).

/s/

LUIS TUPAS
Deputy Chief for Soil Science and Resource Assessment

Attachment – NRI Grazing Land Onsite Data Collection Time Periods by MLRA