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USDA Accepting Applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program

By USDA

02/02/2015

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make available $100 million this year through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners should submit applications by February 27, 2015, to ensure they are considered for this year’s funding. Through CSP, participants take additional conservation steps to improve the resource conditions on their land, including soil, air and habitat quality, water quality and quantity, and energy conservation. The 2014 Farm Bill brought changes to CSP including an expanded conservation activity list that will offer participants greater options to meet their conservation needs and protect the natural resources on their land. Applications should be submitted to local NRCS offices. As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory of their land, which will help determine the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. For the checklist and additional information, visit the CSP Web site http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/