For Immediate Release
Date: May 22, 2008

Contact:
Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606
Don McCallon, District Conservationist (618) 833-5666

CSP Sign-Up Winds Down
Landowners in Lower Cache Watershed Eligible for Program

May 22, 2008—The 2008 sign-up period for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) ends next Friday—May 30, 2008. According to local staff at USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) there’s still time to submit an application and begin the process of determining your eligibility. “Even produces down here in the Lower Cache who have just been toying with the idea can come in, learn a little about who this program is ideal for and if it fits, we’ll go over the details and run the numbers,” says Don McCallon, NRCS District Conservationist in Anna, IL.

With farm and planting operations delayed and complicated by so much wet spring weather, USDA’s offer of two additional weeks for signing up for CSP came in handy. While NRCS staff would like to offer more time to landowners still undecided, it’s nearly time to gather up all the data and applications and determine which ones will be turned into contracts.

“Depending on your ground, the natural resource problems you face and those you’ve fixed, CSP could be the perfect solution to reward you for all the conservation measures you’ve taken and help you keep going and do even more,” McCallon explains.

Interested producers in Johnson, Union, Alexander and Pulaski Counties should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more. The self-assessment and other program information may be accessed at http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.

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