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NRCSNews . . .What is the New CSP?

The acronym stands for Conservation Stewardship Program.  Authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), Congress renamed and revamped the former Conservation Security Program completely to improve its availability and appeal to agricultural and forestry producers.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will administer the program, and provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers.  Participation in the program is voluntary.

 CSP provides opportunities to both recognize excellent stewards and deliver valuable new conservation.  Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and non-industrial private forestland.  Conservation benefits derived from maintaining and enhancing natural resources will improve water and soil quality, assist in addressing global climate change, and encourage environmentally responsible energy production. 

 The signup for CSP is continuous, and applications on hand September 30, 2009 will be considered for 2009 funding.  Producers must address at least one resource concern at the time of application and a priority concern by the end of their contract as the minimum treatment requirement for program eligibility.  The entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract.  

CSP offers participants two possible types of payments.  There is an annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and maintaining, and managing existing activities; and supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations.

Producers interested in CSP are encouraged to begin the application process by completing a producer self-screening checklist, which is available on the CSP website, www.nrcs.usda.gov/new_csp.  This checklist will help determine whether the new CSP is suitable for them or their operation.  Additional information can be obtained through your local NRCS office.

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Modified:  03/16/2010