The leader of the South Dakota State office of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has retired. State Conservationist Jeff Zimprich’s final day on the job with NRCS following a 40 year career was January 2. He says he saw a lot of changes with agriculture and conservation over that time.

The South Dakota native worked for NRCS in Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. He says one of the greatest advancements for conservation during that time has been the push to improve soil health and protect the environment as well as conserve natural resources.

Zimprich says he intends to return to the family farm where he grew up on in eastern South Dakota and be actively engaged in crop farming.

Zimprich says for successful conservation to move forward, producers must be able to be profitable with their operations and their practices.