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1. Introduction

The National Resources Inventory (NRI) program collects and produces scientifically credible information on the status, condition, and trends of land, soil, water, and related resources on the Nation’s non-Federal lands in support of efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters of the United States. It was initially mandated by the Rural Development Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-419) to conduct a “land inventory reflecting soil, water, and related resource conditions.” It requires assessments of resource quantity and quality, as well as change and trends, allowing for regular resource appraisals on the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices, irrigation techniques, and farming technologies, techniques, and practices. The NRI is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with Iowa State University’s Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology (CSSM).

The NRI Grazing Lands On-Site survey is conducted as part of the NRI program. On-site sample sites are statistically selected as a subsample of the NRI program on non-Federal rangeland sites in twenty 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 on non-Federal non-range grassland and scrub-shrub sites in the forty-eight coterminous States. Through an interagency agreement between NRCS and the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), NRI Grazing Land On-Site data are also collected in thirteen States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).

States have responsibility for coordinating the NRI Grazing Land On-Site survey process including: workload planning, data collection, and reviewing the collected data. State Resource Inventory Coordinators (SRIC) and/or designated state grazing land specialists are involved in all parts of the process. The sections below describe coordination of the survey process, as well as the NRI Grazing Land applications available to support these activities.

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance is an integral part of the NRI process. Quality is the first responsibility of each state resource inventory coordinator, state grassland/range management specialist, and data gatherer. SRICs must develop and implement a plan for on-site data collection to track progress, implement quality assurance, and provide support to data gatherers.

All personnel involved with the NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection are responsible for promoting the scientific integrity and ensuring the quality of grazing land on-site data. All data gatherers must thoroughly and consistently follow protocols established for data collection. These protocols are established and described in the NRI Handbook of Instructions for Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection.

Key components of the quality assurance process include:

• Workload planning
• Training and Calibration
• Using the Computer Assisted Survey Instrument (CASI) data gathering software
• Ensuring that all data gatherers have data collection instructions and know how to get assistance when needed with interpretation of instructions
• Maintaining an open communication network between leaders and data gatherers and the NRI support structure including the NRI Help Desk
• Spot checking data gatherer’s work throughout data collection
• Reviewing collected data

Workload Planning and Preparation

Survey sample segments are selected for each survey year. Sample segment files are distributed to the States to use for workload planning and preparations. These activities include: screening sample sites for data collection eligibility, obtaining landowner permissions to collect data on their land, identifying data collectors to conduct data collection and, in States that use contractors for data collection, working with Contracting Officers to set up contracts. In addition, States must ensure that data collectors are trained each year.

The NRI Grazing Land website (https://grazingland.cssm.iastate.edu/) contains survey information, instructions, links to software applications, and a number of other documents that will help you. Bookmark this web page.

The NRI Grazing Land Help Desk (nri-graze-help@iastate.edu) is available for you to ask questions and receive further assistance.

Sample Sites

The NRI sample design is a two-stage sample. Area segments comprise the first stage (fig. 1). Area segments are distributed across the Nation and are located in every county. Most area segments are 160 acres in size. The second stage sample consists of generally three points within each area segment (fig. 2). The area segments and points together provide a spatially balance sample.

Figure 1. Area segments are located in every county of the U.S.

Figure 2. Points are located within each area segment. Generally, there are three points in each segment.

The three survey types, non-Federal rangeland, non-Federal pastureland, and BLM-managed rangeland, utilize the NRI segment and point geometry. Each segment generally contains three points whose locations were randomly selected and numerically labeled, 1-3. For each sample segment, field data are collected for points 1 and 2, if eligible. Eligibility is based on ownership and land cover/use. Additional factors (e.g., landowner denied access; inaccessibility due to terrain, plants, or animals) may prevent data collection on eligible sites. If field data cannot be collected for either point 1 or 2 or both, field data are collected for point 3, if eligible. Thus, field data are collected for two points, at most, within each sample segment. This decision was made to allow for time to travel to a sample segment and collect field data for two points within a single day. Pilot studies showed that field data collection for all three points plus travel time would often be greater than eight hours.

Sample segments are statistically selected from a group of segments that contained at least one eligible point when the segment was most recently observed in the primary NRI. Figure 2 provides an example of a segment whose points lie on a mix of land cover/uses. Not all points within a sample segment may be eligible for field data collection.

Sample Sites Are Confidential

NRI sample locations are confidential for two reasons. First, it protects the landowner and information collected on their property. Second, it protects the integrity of the survey. We do not want sample sites managed differently because they are part of the survey. Such actions would bias survey results.
Confidentiality agreements must be signed by data collectors and witnessed by the SRIC. These agreements will be maintained by the SRIC.

Sample Files

Sets of files are prepared and sent to States for each of the three types of on-site samples (Range, Pasture, and BLM) to distribute to each state, including: (1) numbers of sample segments by county; (2) list of sample segments; (3) point-level information for the sample segments; and (4) spatial data files for sample locations. These files are used for planning purposes and requesting permissions from landowners.

Site/Soil Maps

Soil/site maps represent the locations where data must be collected. They contain the site locations and soil survey layers generally overlaid on NAIP imagery. A site/soil map is prepared for each NRI Grazing Land On-Site sample segment. The NRI Remote Sensing Labs (RSL) review the prepared maps before distributing the digital site/soil maps to the states.

Chapter 3, Section 3.3 of the NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Handbook of Instructions states, “On-site data will be collected at the certified NRI point location. Certified locations are the geographic coordinate system descriptions of NRI sample points and segments that accurately describe the location of each point and segment in prior photo-interpreted NRI data collection. The certified location is unique for each point and segment. The site map representation of the certified point locations should be considered the definitive source. GPS locations should closely match this map representation. In instances where the GPS accuracy is poor or the GPS location contradicts the site map, move to the certified location as shown on the segment and point site map. Always review the point location carefully before beginning data collection.”

Screening Sample Sites

The SRIC will use tools and resources described below to determine possible eligibility of sample sites for the non-Federal range and pasture samples through a screening process. For the non-Federal range and pasture samples, a point is eligible for field data collection if it is grassland or scrub shrub land defined as range or not range (See Chapter 6 of the Handbook of Instructions). In addition, the point must be located on non-Federal land (See Chapter 5 of the Handbook of instructions).

The BLM conducts screening for the sample sites located on BLM managed lands. For the BLM sample, sites are eligible for field data collection if they are grassland or scrub shrub land defined as range and are located on BLM managed Federal land. BLM state contacts are also responsible for obtaining permissions, if needed, for data collectors to cross private lands to navigate to the sample site located on BLM managed lands. The BLM will provide a letter to be carried by data collectors, in the event that they are challenged by folks leasing the land, showing that they have permission to conduct data collection on BLM managed lands.

Land Cover/Use

The following resources will help with screening for land cover/use:

• Site maps
• NRCS and FSA office records
• Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQ)
• Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)

Ownership

The following materials may be useful in determining land ownership:

• Local tax and land office records
• Maps published by Federal and State agencies
• Commercial maps and county plat books
• NRCS and FSA office records
• Topographic quadrangle maps or Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)
• Geospatial data layers containing ownership information

Landowner Permissions

NRCS policy and a part of our agreement with Conservation Districts require obtaining landowner/operator permission before going on private property. Access to private lands is an issue in many areas. State NRI and grazing land leaders should work with local on-site office personnel to obtain ownership information for sample sites and to establish procedures for obtaining permission to visit sample sites to collect grazing land data.
NRI sample point locations are provided to SRICs in the form of a spatial database. In addition, site maps are provided to SRICs. Site maps provide verified spatial representation of the segment boundaries and point locations on an ortho photo base. The official NRI spatial data base containing certified locations is the source for this map. These materials should be used along with local land appraiser documents (e.g., Plat maps) to identify the land owner/operator and obtain contact information. Work with District Conservationists and other local NRCS staff to obtain ownership information for sample sites and permission to visit sample sites to collect grazing land data. (See Appendix C of the Handbook of Instructions).

Other resources:

• Ideas for Landowner Permission - This document contains helpful hints provided by States from their experiences with obtaining permissions.
• NRI landowner brochure - This brochure helps to explain the survey to the landowner.
• Reports for Landowners - Summary reports from data collected on their land may be generated for landowners.

Data Collectors

SRICs will work with their State leadership to identify grazing land specialists to conduct NRI Grazing Land On-Site data collection in their State. In some cases, these data collectors will be NRCS staff, while in other cases contractors will conduct this work.

SRICs are responsible for:

• Ensuring that all data gatherers are trained and understand all concepts and instructions in this handbook and those data gatherers can demonstrate proper application of these instructions when collecting grazing land data.
• Providing each data gatherer with instructions, ancillary materials, and references needed to locate segment sample sites and collect data.
• Providing data gatherers equipment to collect or measure grazing land resource conditions.
• Using the materials and services available from the NRI Help Desk to support training and data collection needs.

Contracting

If States choose to hire contactors to conduct NRI Grazing Land On-Site data collection, the SRIC will work with their State Contracting Officer. Example Statements of Work are available by contacting Erik Suffridge (erik.suffridge@usda.gov), National NRI Grazing Land Leader.

Data Collector Training

Data collectors require training each year. This training is conducted through a series of webinars and on-site training as described below.

Webinars

A series of webinars is delivered mid-February of each year. The webinars provide updates to the survey, overview of hardware and software, survey applications, and data collection protocols. Webinar recordings and power points are posted to the NRI Grazing Land website for review by those unable to attend during presentations.

On-Site Training

The NRI grazing lands onsite data collection is conducted in every State at scientifically sampled locations selected from the NRI national sample. The collection involves a fairly complex sequence of steps that need to be carried out in a precise manner to ensure data quality and consistency. To prepare data collectors for the work, training is conducted annually for all collectors. More formal training is provided through Farm Production and Conservation Business Center’s Employee Development Section (EDS), formerly known as NEDC. The NRI grazing lands onsite training policy clarifies when a collector needs to attend the formal EDS training versus similar but less formal training conducted locally. It also indicates that training may be waived every other year for collectors who collect this data annually, which can reduce a State’s training and travel costs if its grazing lands onsite collectors do not change from year to year.

Every grazing lands onsite data collection must be conducted by an authorized technical leader, accompanied by one or more crew members. Each of the collectors must be authorized annually before collecting data. Authorization is based on the combination of training and experience as indicated in National Bulletin 290-17-7. The bulletin describes two levels of data collectors and requirements for attending a national training conducted by EDS or conducted locally by a national grazing lands trainer or authorized technical leader:

Crew Members - A crew member for a grazing lands onsite collection must attend one of the following the same year as the collection:

• Grazing lands onsite training conducted by the EDS
• Grazing lands onsite training conducted locally by a national grazing lands trainer
• Grazing lands onsite training conducted by an authorized technical leader

The current year training may be waived if the crew member was also a crew member the previous year and conducted data collections at five or more points.

Technical Leader - The technical leader for any grazing lands onsite collection must

• Have been previously qualified as a crew member and acted as a crew member for data collections at five or more points, led by an authorized technical leader
• Have attended the EDS grazing lands onsite training for the year conducting collection as a technical leader

The current year training may be waived if the technical leader was also a technical leader the previous year and acted as technical leader for data collections at five or more points.

Training Records - The State resource inventory coordinator or equivalent leader of the State onsite collections must maintain training and collection experience records for all NRI grazing lands onsite collection personnel. Those training records will be audited periodically by the NRI Program onsite collection national leader and also used annually to plan for the EDS national training.

FPAC EDS Training

The Farm Production and Conservation Business Center’s Employee Development Section (EDS) hosts national NRI Grazing Land Onsite trainings. Sign-up is done through AgLearn for NRCS staff. States send names and contact information of contractors to Erik Suffridge (esuff@iastate.edu).

State Training

The SRIC arranges local trainings as needed. Requests may be made to the National grazing land trainers for assistance.

Equipment

Each field team requires a field PC with the current version of the NRI Grazing Land survey software installed for collecting data. See the NRI Grazing Land website for more information on the supported field units and CASI software. A list of tools and equipment needed in the field is listed in Chapter 2 of the Handbook of Instructions.

2. Data Collection

During the data collection season, the SRIC will oversee the collection process. This includes monitoring the status of collection and quality assurance activities (reviewing collected data and conducting in-field reviews and post-training calibration exercises).

Data Collection Time Periods

Data collection time periods vary (see the map below). All data collection for the survey year must be completed by September 30th.

Workload Monitoring

The SRIC will be in contact with data collectors to ensure data collection is progressing according to plans. The SRIC or designate will also conduct calibration of the field crews and spot checks (in-field reviews) as part of quality assurance. The Quality Assurance Plan provides more details. The SRIC will communicate any issues with data collection progress to Erik Suffridge (esuff@iastate.edu), National NRI Grazing Land Leader.

Applications for monitoring

Several Grazing Land Reports are designed to assist with monitoring the progress of the survey:

• Grazing Land Data Collection Progress – separate tables for Range, Pasture, and BLM samples
• Status Detail
• Grazing Land Point Summary

See section 5 of this document for more information about the reports.

Calibration

The goal of calibration is to ensure data collection protocols are being conducted consistently among data collectors. For calibration, data collectors record data along the same sets of transects and data summaries are compared. The calibration session will include protocol exercises for the following protocols (See Appendix E, Quality Assurance Calibration for Grazing Land On-Site Quantitative Protocols, in the NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Handbook of Instructions):

• Soil stability
• Line point intercept
• Line intercept transects for canopy cover
• Plant height
• Species composition by weight (required only if double-sampling is used by crew)

In addition to the calibration exercises conducted during the training sessions, field supervisors or their designee(s) will schedule at least two calibration sessions with each field crew assigned to collect data for 15 or more segments. Field crews assigned fewer than 15 segments may attend only one calibration session. Multiple field crews may attend each scheduled calibration session. Calibration segments containing data collected during the calibration sessions shall be uploaded to the server at Iowa State University.

In-Field Review

Field supervisors shall conduct in-field data reviews for each field crew during the field season. At least 5% of segments completed by each field crew will be reviewed in the field. If fewer than 20 segments are completed by a field crew, the field supervisor will perform an in-field review of at least one of those segments. For an in-field review, the field supervisor will visit the site either with the field crew present or within a few days of data collection. The field supervisor will review the collected data for the segment and complete the In-field Review Check List (See Appendix C of the Quality Assurance Plan).

3. Reviewing Collected Data

The SRIC is responsible for ensuring review of the collected data. It is important to conduct the review early and often during the field season. Sometimes errors or misconceptions are identified that can be communicated to the data collector and corrected before they are repeated. All data review for the survey year must be completed by October 31.

Sets of review tables constructed from collected data are available to download from the NRI Grazing Land applications page. The tables organize data from multiple points by themes. A guidance document describes the tables, their data elements, and what to look for. The segments and points associated with the data are listed in the review tables. Individual points may also be viewed in the View CASI. However, any data edits must be made by downloading the segment to the web CASI or the CASI on handheld unit. Once the data for a segment have been reviewed and any needed edits are made, the segment is marked as review complete using the NRI Grazing Land Review Complete application.

Several NRI Grazing Land applications are constructed for use in the review process:

• Review Tables
• View CASI
• CASI on handheld unit or web CASI
• Review Complete

The applications are described in section 5 of this document.

4. NRI Grazing Land Applications and Database

All the NRI Grazing Land On-Site data collection applications have been developed by CSSM through a cooperative agreement with NRCS to support the NRI survey. The applications include the Computer Assisted Survey Instrument (CASI) data collection software installed on handheld field units, a web-based version of the CASI and other survey-related web-based applications.

A database has been constructed for NRI Grazing Land On-Site data storage. NRI sample segments, points, and certain data fields associated with those sites are prepared for each survey year. The data collector uses the CASI to: (1) download sample segments and their associated points from the server; (2) record data; and (3) upload the sample segments, their associated points, and recorded data back to the server for database storage.

CASI Installed on Handheld Field Units

The CASI software installed on field instruments and used in the field to record NRI Grazing Land On-Site data is the primary data collection software. Each year an updated version is made available on the website for use in the current survey. Data collectors download the software and install it on the handheld unit. More information is available online.

The user must download the segment from the server to record or edit the associated data. Changes must be saved and the segment uploaded back to the server to record updates to the database. When collecting field data, it is a good practice to upload the segments with recorded data each day. This prevents data loss in case something happens to the field unit.

Note: A segment is like a library book that can only be checked out to one place at a time. In other words, a segment can be downloaded to only one field unit CASI or web-based CASI on one computer at a time. The segment must be returned to the server before it can be downloaded by the CASI on a different field unit or web-based CASI.

NRI Grazing Land Web Applications

A number of NRI Grazing Land web applications have been developed by CSSM for collecting and reviewing NRI Grazing Land On-Site data, and for monitoring the data collection survey. All NRI Grazing Land web applications are available through links on the Web Apps page of the NRI Grazing Land website.

NRI Account Manager

The web-based applications for NRI Grazing Land on-site data collection are under a security system managed by the State Manager (SRIC or designee) in each state. The system requires each user to create an account using the NRI Account Manager site. Once your account has been created, log into the Account Manager site and select Request Application Access. The State Manager will grant access based on your responsibilities. The State Manager must approve or deny access to the Grazing Land Applications for each survey year.

Access to the NRI web applications is controlled by three levels of security:

• Grazing - This is the lowest level of security and generally made available to data collectors.
• GrazingReview - This level is generally restricted to NRCS staff in the State who have responsibility for assisting with monitoring the survey progress and reviewing collected data.
• GrazingDataManagement - This level is generally restricted to one or two NRCS staff who are responsible for marking each sample segment as complete after having been reviewed and edited, if necessary.

A table on the web-based applications page defines the required role (level of security) needed to access to each of the web applications.

Grazingland Web CASI

This is the web-based version of the data collection software (CASI) installed on the field PC to record data. It generally has the same screens and functionality as the CASI installed on the field PC. It has two general uses: (1) During the screening process, segments can be downloaded and information for points that are ineligible for data collection (e.g., land cover/uses such as forest, waterbodies, or built-up land; Federal ownership for non-Federal Range or Pasture samples; or landowner denied access) can be recorded. (2) The web CASI is often useful review and editing data. The user must download the segment from the server to view and edit the data. Changes must be saved and the segment uploaded back to the server to record updates to the database.

Grazingland View CASI

The View CASI is used for reviewing data collected for a segment that has been returned to the server. This application allows the user to view multiple screens of data at one time. The application cannot be used to edit the data. Editing must be done with the web CASI or CASI on the handheld unit.
Note: A segment can be downloaded to only one field unit CASI or web-based CASI on one computer at a time. The segment must be returned to the server before it can be downloaded by the CASI on a different field unit or web-based CASI.

Grazingland Images

Data collectors take a minimum of nine photos at each field site (Handbook of Instructions Chapter 3). The images application is used to upload the images, tag them, and submit them to the server. The document, “NRI Grazing Land Images Uploading and Tagging”, provides instructions for uploading and tagging photos.

Grazingland Navigation Application

This application is used for planning purposes or to navigate to the general area where a sample site is located. The application allows the user to select an area (entire State, or County) and sample type (Range, Pasture, or BLM). A map showing the sample locations, roads and terrain is displayed.

Grazingland Reports

Among the grazing land reports, Status Detail, Data Collection Progress, and Point Summary are all designed to assist with monitoring the survey progress. Data View allows the user to download collected data to an Excel file.

Grazing Land Status Detail

In the table for the selected State, the number of sample segments are displayed by collection period and sample type. The five right-most status columns in the table provide the number of segments in each category. The number of the segments in each of the five status types sum to the total reported in the third column from the left. As the survey progresses, the numbers of segments in each column should move to the right. The segment status columns are:

• In-Not Started – These segments are “in at the server” and no data has been collected.
• In-UC – These segments are “in at the server” and some, but not all, data have been collected.
• Checked Out – These segments have been checked out to either the CASI on a field PC (hand-held unit) or web CASI.
• In-Complete – These segments are “in at the server” and all required data have been recorded.
• Reviewed – The data for these segments have been reviewed (and edited, if necessary) by the SRIC or their designate and marked as Review Complete using the Grazing Review Complete application. Note that once segments are in Reviewed status, they are locked and cannot be checked out.

Clicking on a number in the interactive Status Detail table will display below the table a list of segments in this category (see example). The user can click on a listed segment ID to learn additional status details about the segment and its points.

Grazing Land Data Collection Progress (Separate links for the Range, Pasture, and BLM samples)

These tables show the numbers of sample segments by State and status.

Grazing Land Point Summary

The status of each point is listed in these tables. The user selects the State of interest. Columns are displayed for all segments and their associated points. The columns are:

• Sample (BLM, Range, Pasture)
• Survey (year)
• County
• County Name
• PSU (segment)
• Point
• Point Status
• PSU Status
• Field Collected – Was field data collected? (0=no, 1=yes)
• Field Image Count – number of field images associated with the point that have been uploaded and submitted using the Grazing Land Images application.

Point Status Types

• NS - Not started – Nothing has been entered
• IP - Something entered, but disposition data not complete
• CS - Point is completed in the screening process (i.e., ownership, field visit, land use, land use source, primary gatherer name, primary gatherer title entered.) and is ineligible for field data collection.
• FN - Some disposition data entered, enough to determine that a field visit is needed (ownership, field visit, land use entered)

Points must belong to an activated segment to be in one of the following statuses:

• UC – The point is eligible for field data collection, but incomplete
• CO – The point is eligible for field data collection and those data are complete
• CF - Point is completed with a field visit where the point was determined to be ineligible in the field (ownership, field visit, land use, land use source, primary gatherer name, primary gatherer title, field position, date of field visit entered)
• C3 – Field data are collected for at most two points within a segment. If field data were collected for points 1 and 2, no field data are required for the third point. However, to complete the third point disposition data must be entered (ownership, field visit, land use, land use source, primary gatherer name, primary gatherer title entered). C3 indicates this third point is completed.

Segment/PSU Status Types

Grazing Land Data View

Data View allows the user to download data from a segment into an Excel spreadsheet. The primary use of these data is to create summary reports landowners. The reports are shared with landowners who request them and summaries of only data collected on their land is to be shared with them.
Two types of summaries, Rangelands and Pasturelands, can be generated using Excel spreadsheet macros linked on the website. Working with downloaded data from a single point at a time, data from worksheets is copied and pasted into worksheets of the macro workbook. See Reports for Landowners on the Reference tab of the NRI Grazing Land website for more information.

Grazing Land Review Tables

Review tables are constructed from collected data and organized by themes of related data. The tables are updated when segments are uploaded to the server. The tables display data from multiple points and allow the reviewer to identify anomalies. Any edits must be done using the web CASI or CASI on the handheld unit. A guidance document provides direction for using these tables.

Grazing Land Review Complete

The final step in the data collection process is to mark each sample segment as reviewed and complete. This step is done by the SRIC or designate after the segment data have been reviewed and, if necessary, edited. The application lists the survey year, State, County, segment, segment status and details, Sample (Range, Pasture, or BLM), Collection Period (March-May, May-July, July-September), and Date First CO (date the segment was recorded as complete). The list may be filtered by collection period and sample type. When a segment has CO status, the segment is available to be set to Review Complete by clicking that option in the Details column of the table.

Make sure that the segment’s data have been reviewed and any needed edits are made prior to marking a segment as Review Complete. Segments that are marked as Review Complete are locked and no longer available to be checked out to the web CASI or CASI on the handheld unit.