(a) The State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall use money from the agricultural soil and water conservation fund for providing technical assistance to landowners and operators for soil and water conservation land improvement measures and soil and water conservation plans developed jointly by landowners and operators and local soil and water conservation districts.
(b) The board shall designate priorities among the various land improvement measures, including:
(1) brush control and other water supply enhancement activities;
(2) forest improvement measures;
(3) returning erosive cropland to pasture and other practices that maximize water conservation;
(4) increasing water use efficiency;
(5) increasing water quality;
(6) reducing erosion; and
(7) maximizing public benefits.