The cut-off date for the current Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to Jan. 27, Dave White, chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced.
“We want to make sure that people who want to be considered for CSP during this first ranking period have the time they need to complete their applications,” says White. “CSP is a very popular program and I encourage interested producers to apply at their local NRCS office as soon as they can.”
Producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship are eligible for CSP payments. The program is offered in all 50 states, tribal lands and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups. White says it provides many conservation benefits, including improved water and soil quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and conservation activities that address the effects of climate change.
A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operations. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contracts obligations and potential payments.
Learn more about CSP and other NRCS programs.