FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2009
For More Information Contact: Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606

Check Out New CSP

Champaign, IL—It’s finally here—the re-tooled and long-anticipated Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has arrived. Agricultural operators nationwide can now learn what the new conservation program offers, how it works, and decide whether to enroll. CSP encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner and rewards them for it. Producers can review program details and enroll beginning August 10, 2009. Important to note is that sign-up for CSP is open nationwide and continuous, offering landowners plenty of time to look over program information, research program rules and goals to see if CSP is a good fit for their operation. IL NRCS State Conservationist Bill Gradle confirms NRCS teams are eager to launch the new national program. He encourages interested producers to review all applicant information and requirements at www.nrcs.usda.new_csp  or visit your local county USDA Service Center today.

USDA ensures activity in the new program will reap beneficial improvements both on and off the farm. Sustainable natural resource conditions, long-term land productivity, reduced non-point source pollution, improved air quality, and enhanced wildlife habitat will be the result. CSP applicants who achieve those results—and are willing to do even more--will be financially rewarded. CSP rewards conservationists for putting quality conservation on their land.

CSP has restrictive acreage levels for involvement. Beginning now through 2012, CSP will impact 51,076,000 acres nationwide—that’s just 12,769,000 acres per year for four years. The number of eligible acres Illinois operators can reward has not been announced.

New regulations for eligibility are highly specific. Listed here are important details Illinois producers should know:

• CSP targets farm operators; participants must be legal operator of land in question for the life of the contract.
• All Operators must be documented in Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) farm records management system. Those WITHOUT this status—or those with outdated or inaccurate records--must be enrolled in the system or update their data or they will be ineligible.
• Obtain the “Self-Screening Checklist” online or at local NRCS office; answer all questions and fill it out completely, to help you decide if CSP fits your goals and your operation.
• Other information about your operation—documentation, maps, etc.—will be required later. Be ready!

Applicants who do NOT have these particular documents in order could seriously impact their 2009 eligibility—or delay it.

NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Programs Ivan Dozier confirms this. “Information must be documented in Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm records management system.” This ensures applicant eligibility information for Adjusted Gross Income verification and it confirms compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions. In order to be eligible, all paperwork and conservation status must be in order. “If you’re not ready right now, don’t worry. There’s plenty of time to update your information and check out the program—remember, this is a continuous and ongoing enrollment,” Dozier adds.

In preparation for the new program, NRCS is developing a new electronic conservation measurement tool. They will enter data and information into the computerized tool which measures, calculates, and ultimately rates the performance and effect of conservation practices installed on the land. According Dozier, “This new tool will systematically and scientifically evaluate and rank CSP applications nationwide.” The tool will be available for use at the local level in mid-September.

As for what the new CSP pays out, no definitive information has been released. However, CSP will offer two possible payment scenarios: One involves an annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities. Compensation for on-farm research and demonstration activities or pilot tests will be made through this annual payment. The other payment scenario includes a supplemental payment for folks receiving annual payments who also agree to adopt a new resource-conserving crop rotation.

Nationwide, NRCS established a target to set aside five percent of CSP acres for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and an additional five percent for beginning farmers or ranchers. “This ensures CSP will be available to operations of ALL shapes and sizes!” Dozier adds.

Participants will create a ‘‘conservation stewardship plan,’’ using NRCS’ conservation planning process. This plan will document how producers address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner. The conservation stewardship plan contains a record of participant decisions on the schedule of conservation activities to be implemented, managed, and improved under CSP. To learn more, visit your local NRCS office or visit the website at www.nrcs.usda.new_csp.

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