Soil Conservation Service was an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture from 1935 to 1994. Its professional conservationists helped farmers and ranchers prevent soil erosion from water and wind. The service gave assistance through soil-conservation districts and other state and federal agencies. It made soil surveys, developed conservation plans for individual farms, and helped land users install anti-erosion systems. The agency also managed a national program of flood prevention, irrigation, and watershed protection. In 1994, the agency was replaced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.