Elsberry Plant Materials Center Mission Statement

Updated 12/04/2007

VISION – Excellence in developing plant science technology to help people help the land. 

MISSION – To assist land users, federal, state and local partners, and industry growers in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, in protecting, conserving and improving natural resources by providing plant materials and plant related technology.  

STRATEGY – The Elsberry Plant Materials Center vision and mission is advanced through evaluating and selecting superior plants, developing cultural and management technology, promoting the use of plants and related technology, through field and demonstration plantings, leading tours, and training NRCS employees and others on plant science technology.  Plant Materials Committees in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri identify and prioritize plant materials technology needs and the three state conservationists establish direction and funding for the center. 

GOALS – The Elsberry Plant Materials Center (PMC) provides plants for conservation, produces foundation seeds and plants or their equivalent, and promotes their use in solving natural resource problems on both private and public land.  Beneficial uses for these plant materials include livestock forages, biomass and timber production, carbon sequestration, air quality, erosion reduction, wetland restoration, wildlife food and cover, water quality improvement, streambank and riparian area protection, and other unique conservation needs.  In addition to conservation plant release, the PMC also develops establishment and management technology for successful use of plants in resource conservation programs. 

TACTICS – Specialists at the center identify plants that show promise for addressing a specific conservation need, develops related technology and test their performance in the field.  After species are proven beneficial for solving the conservation problem, they are released to the private sector for commercial production for general public use.  Opportunities for success are to continue working through NRCS field offices, soil and water conservation districts and other conservation partners who come in contact with clients in need of special plants and related technology for special situations.  USDA programs that emphasize and utilize plant materials and plant science technology include Conservation Technical Assistance, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program, and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program with some opportunities in the Conservation Security Program, Resource Conservation and Development, and the Small Watershed and Flood Prevention program.  The Elsberry Plant Materials Center also has the opportunity to support increasing interest in urban conservation by providing plants with unique landscape architecture value in addition to their erosion and sediment control, water and air quality benefits.  Emerging opportunities in the agricultural sector lie in biomass for bioenergy production and carbon sequestration.

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