United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Idaho Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content

Idaho Bulletin 450-6-4

May 1, 2006

SUBJECT:  TCH - Conservation System Guides (CSG) and linkage to the Progress Reporting System (PRS)

TO:  All Employees, NRCS, Idaho

Purpose.  To provide guidance on viewing CSG/PRS Training Modules

Expiration Date.  September 30, 2006

Conservation System Guides (CSGs) have existed within the electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) since 2003.  CSGs help the Progress Reporting System (PRS) capture outcomes of planned and applied conservation systems. They have been linked to PRS to facilitate data mining, thereby reducing the burden on field offices for unnecessary data entry.  For FY 2006, CSG linkage to PRS will be continued. CSG management issues raised by State and Field offices in FY 2005 led to the formation of a National quick-action team to further address concerns and problems. Their action plan has led to the actions described below.

A work group, led by the Operations Management and Oversight Division, has developed online employee training that will:

  • Increase understanding and ease of use of Web-based CSG management software;
  • Enhance knowledge of PRS. Training will specifically address why NRCS needs accountability information; and
  • Improve understanding of how CSG data are used in PRS.

Listed below are the required training materials:

  1. Module_1: Conservation_System_Guides_A_General_Overview
  2. Module_2: Understanding_and_Using_New_Functionality_of_CSG
  3. Module_3: Understanding_and_Using_the_CSG_application
  4. Module_4: CSG_Role_in_FY2006_Performance_Measurement
  5. Module_5: Editing_CS_Physical_Effects_and_Adding_Resource_Concerns_to_PRS
  6. Module_6: Future_Use_of_CSG-PRS_Linked_Data
  7. Module_7: Frequently_asked_questions_for_the_CSG-PRS_training

 Modules 1 through 6 are downloadable, narrated power-point presentations that can be accessed from the PRS web site. Module 7 is a word document with a series of common questions and answers for each module.

The training modules are accessed by logging into the PRS home page and clicking on:

Training links in PRS help, including CSG-PRS 2006 Training;
Select - CSG-PRS training 2006 video files - Recommended;
Select - Video version of files

There are 6 large modules that should be downloaded only once per office to a shared drive. To download, right click on the name of the module and select Save Target As. The Save As window will open, then browse to the shared location and click Save. Do that for all of the modules.

These narrated power-points are in shockwave format, and are best viewed in QuickTime software. To view the installation instructions, use the following link: Instructions for Accessing and Using QuickTime on CCE Machines.  This is found on the same page where you choose to select video files instead of Power-points.

It is recommended that these CSG-PRS training modules be viewed during an office staff meeting, when practical. All field offices should view these modules by June 30, 2006.

Questions related to this bulletin should be directed to Mark Weatherstone, Assistant State Conservationist (Technical Services) at (208) 378-5720 or Glenn Shea, Tool Kit/PRMS Coordinator at (208) 685-6979.


/s/                                           
RICHARD SIMS                                         
State Conservationist               

< Back to 450 Expired Bulletins