Board and Staff

Knox County Soil Conservation District partners with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to protect and conserve the natural resources on agricultural land in Knox County. The District and NRCS share field office space at the USDA Service Center located on New Harvest Lane.  The two District employees are employed by Knox County and are managed by the Stormwater Department of Knox County as well as the Board of Supervisors.  Knox County currently employs a Soil Conservationist and a Program Coordinator.  

Luke Shoffner, Soil Conservationist, Knox County

865-523-3338 x 3

Cynthia Foster, Program Coordinator, Knox County

865-523-3338 x 3

The District Conservationist, Soil Conservationist and Soil Technician are the federal employees at the Knox County field office and manage the field operations and all federal contracts generated throught the Knox field office.    

Addison Davidson, District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

865-523-3338 x 3

David Gentry, Soil Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

865-523-3338 x3

Leslie Bradley, Soil Technician, USDA-NRCS

865-523-3338 x3

The Knox County Soil Conservation District is supervised by a 5 member Board. The Board directs the funds of the State of TN Dept. of Agriculture's Ag Resources Conservation Fund to local Knox County landowners who participate in the TDA's cost-share program. The Board has 3 elected positions and 2 appointed positions (each office serves a 3-year term, and elections and appointments are staggered so as to provide some continuity of Board makeup).

Soil Conservation Districts in Tennessee hold elections every three (3) years for three (3) of the five (5) positions. The other two seats are appointed alternately during non-election years. Knox County SCD held our election in March of 2022.

Our current Board of Supervisors is:

Bill Hill, Chairman

Broadus Hubbs, Vice Chairman

Bill Benziger, Secretary

Calvin Thompson, Treasurer

Richard Neal, Liaison

Call us at 865-523-3338 x 3 with any questions or concerns.

Privacy Policy

This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for www.knoxcountyscd.com. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this web site. It will notify you of the following:

1. What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the web site, how it is used and with whom it may be shared.
2. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data.
3. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.
4. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

Information Collection, Use, and Sharing
We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.

We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order.

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

Your Access to and Control Over Information
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:

• See what data we have about you, if any.
• Change/correct any data we have about you.
• Have us delete any data we have about you.
• Express any concern you have about our use of your data.

Security
We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline.

Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

Updates

Our Privacy Policy may change from time to time and all updates will be posted on this page.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at 865-523-3338 x3 or via email.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

Knox County Soil Conservation District is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Knox County SCD Conserves Soil and Water Resources

The Knox County Soil Conservation District (SCD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Knoxville Field Office are work in partnership to help landowners in Knox County conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.  We provide technical and financial assistance to landowners to help them install agricultural best management practices (BMPs).  Read more below to learn about our projects and see before-and-after BMP photos.

The Knox SCD seeks to help farmers cost-effectively improve operations on their land and conserve natural resources, ensuring that we leave a positive legacy for future agriculturalists.  In pursuit of that goal, we provide technical and financial assistance to farmers in Knox County.  Just a few of the BMPs we assist in installing are:

• Heavy-use area protection
• Livestock watering systems
• Cross fencing for rotational grazing
• Exclusion fencing and stream corssings
• High tunnels
• Wildlife and forestry practices

We also provide low-cost rentals and sales on equipment and materials such as:

• No-till drills
• Lime-spreader
• Geotextile fabric
• Soil-testing kits

Cost-share funding is available through the USDA-NRCS Enfironmental Quality Incentives Program, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund, and other programs.  You can read more about these options on the "Programs and Services" tab.  If you have questions about a resource concern, installing a BMP on your property, or whether you may be eligible for cost-share funding, don't hesitate to contact us at our office today!  We are always happy to answer any questions or schedule a field visit to your property.  

 Here are some photos of recently installed Ag BMPs on Knox County farms:

	Exclusion Fencing Along a Creek (Before & After)
	Heavy Use Area Protection Pad (Before & After)
	Stream Access point (Before & After)
	Watering Trough (Before & After)
	Streambank Stabilization Project (Before & After)

FAQ

What is Soil Health?

The continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains and improves the living condition of plants, animals and humans.

Can I pull gravel out of my creek?

You may be able to pull gravel from a creek, but only within guidelines of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). For more guidance call the TDEC office in Columbia at 931-490-3941 or visit their website: www.tennessee.gov/environment/permits/arapgps

In what situations do I need a permit?

Most work on streams, stream banks, waterways, or drainage areas should be reviewed by TDEC. If you have questions concerning permits you should contact the TDEC office in Columbia at 931-490-3941, or visit their website: www.tennessee.gov/environment/permits/arapgps

Who do I call for a burn permit?

Burn permits are required from October 15 thru May 15 and at other times during certain weather conditions.  Visit BurnSafeTn.org for more information.

Where do I find soils information and aerial imagery for my farm?

The USDA-NRCS website provides aerial photography & soils information. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.

Where can I find floodplain maps for my property?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a great deal of flood information on their website. We have the ability in our office to generate maps for landowners with aerial imagery that has a flood plain map overlaid. Contact us to get a map of your property.

Who do I call when trying to locate underground utility lines (gas, phone, cable, electric, etc.)?

Before you DIG call “Tennessee One Call” at 811 or go to their website: www.tnonecall.com. A person can be held liable for damages incurred if they dig and do not call Tennessee One Call.

Other Questions?

Please call our office at 865-523-3338 x3

end faq

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)