Producers with expiring U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Stewardship Program contracts have until September 12 to renew and add conservation activities that will support their natural resource improvement activities and fine-tune their conservation plans.

 “CSP farmers are conservation leaders and go the extra mile to conserve our nation’s resources,” said Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller. “The 2014 Farm Bill continued that strong commitment and heightened the program’s focus on generating conservation benefits. This program allows landowners to reach the next level of conservation and opens the door to trying new conservation activities.”

About 20,000 CSP contracts are reaching the end of their initial five-year contract period and may be renewed for an additional five years when participants agree to take additional conservation actions.

The program provides opportunities for farmers who are already conservation stewards by helping them improve water quality and quantity, soil health and wildlife habitat. NRCS began accepting renewal applications on July 11, 2014, and farmers have until September 12, 2014 to renew. There will also be another signup in fiscal year 2015.

CSP participants boost their operations’ conservation benefits by installing new conservation activities that make positive changes in soil, water, air quality and wildlife habitat. For example, the program has helped Pennsylvania farmers William and Joan Schumaker protect water quality while more efficiently applying herbicides by using the most current GPS technology to apply herbicides on over 700 acres of cropland. They also improved the effectiveness of their riparian buffer by widening the buffer area and planting pollinator plant species.

To learn about technical and financial assistance available through CSP, visit the Conservation Program Contracts webpage or local USDA service centers. 

9/8/2014