From Wikiagro.com

Contents 1 What is GeoAgro Cplanner? 2 How does it work? 3 Where has it been tested? 4 How does it support conservation activities?

What is GeoAgro Cplanner?

GeoAgro Cplanner is a software application focused on helping Technical Service Providers (TSPs) develop conservation planning activities more efficiently and report conservation practices, plans, and documents to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Internet.
Cplanner is a breakthrough innovation, resulting from a 3-year partnership between the NRCS and GeoAgro, under the project known as Conservation Transaction Plugin. This concept involved the implementation of an NRCS deployed software development kit that can be used by commercial software to provide access to authorized users to the NRCS Conservation Planning Database, and data resources. For more information, please view this video, or visit http://www.cplanner.com/

How does it work?

CPlanner enables TSPs to access NRCS customer folders containing Conservation Plans, from anywhere. Whether it's from home, office or in the field CPlanner can be used to check out a customer folder, input conservation practices, as well as related documents, and send the changes back to the NRCS. Data confidentiality and security is assured through integration with the USDA eAuthentication system. Information is shared with the NRCS State Office/District Conservationist, with the security feature that when someone is modifying a Customer Folder, other users can only view the information.

It also includes simplified GIS/GPS features that streamline working with maps, doing commonly used operations for conservation, such as buffers or strips, and taking to or bringing information from the field. Also, the system is designed so TSPs may continue using the GIS of their choice as well.
You can learn how to use GeoAgro CPlanner and GeoAgro GIS going through hands-on online Courses

Where has it been tested?

GeoAgro Cplanner and GeoAgro GIS have been tested in three pilot field implementations during 2008 and 2009:

• From April 2008 to September 2009, it was used to develop CNMPs by TSPs in 25 locations. State Offices, Technical Service Providers and Producers participated in the field test, with the goal of measuring the effectiveness of the tool to streamline CNMP development and reporting to the NRCS, as well as gather feedback for improving it. Both TSPs and State Offices appreciated the benefits and potential of the tool (Testimonials), and various benefits were identified, including a reduction in TSP CNMP development time from 52 to 38 hours.
  
• From September 2008 to June 2009 it was deployed as part of a CIG Grant for the NRCS Maine State Office: “Conservation Plugin for Forest Management Planning in Maine”. Working with the State Office, Maine Forest Service and Stewardship Foresters, the tool was customized for forest management plan development, and field-tested in 3 locations. This experience showed several benefits for foresters that want to apply for EQIP, providing them with better coordination with the Maine Forest Service, and a user-friendly tool for conservation forestry practices mapping.
  
• From September 2008 to July 2009 it was deployed as part of a CIG Grant for the NRCS Florida State Office: “Conservation Plugin for Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning in Florida”. Working with the State Office, and experienced TSPs, the tools were further customized, built on the experience of the previous CNMP implementation, and tested in three locations.
  

How does it support conservation activities?

Cplanner allows customization to support local needs and different types of Conservation Activity Plans, while complying with NRCS national programs standards. For the initial deployment, the tools have been customized for CNMPs and forest management plan development. In addition to this, it will be gradually customized for other types of activity planning currently supported by NRCS, which include 9 other types of conservation activity plans: Grazing Management, Integrated Pest Management, Irrigation Water Management, Agriculture Energy Management, Comprehensive Air Quality Management, Drainage Water Management, Transition from Irrigated to Dryland Farming, Conservation Plans Supporting Organic Transition, and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Plans.