USDA Announces Conservation Stewardship Program

The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program applications to be considered for funding this year is February 10th.  Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land.  The Department adds CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and management techniques.

Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorize NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from 2020‒2023 and makes additional improvements to the program.  NRCS now enrolls eligible, high-ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres.  Higher payment rates are available under the 2018 Farm Bill for certain conservation activities, including cover crops and resource-conserving crop rotations.

NRCS now provides specific support for organic and for transitioning to organic production activities through CSP. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure they are considered for 2023 funding.

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