Explore the "New" CSP Program on September 18

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), established in the 2008 Farm Bill, is the newest NRCS Incentive Program.  It financially rewards agricultural producers (including forestry) for maintaining and managing existing conservation activities, as well as encourages producers to undertake additional conservation activities to address natural resource concerns on their land. Land must be private or tribal agricultural land or nonindustrial private forest land.

In an effort to share information regarding the application and acceptance process for this “new” version of CSP, NRCS will host an informational meeting on Friday, September 18 from 10 a.m. until noon in the Fairfield County Ag Center in Lancaster. All interested persons from Fairfield and the surrounding Counties are invited to attend. Other informational meetings will be held throughout Ohio in September.

The CSP is available nationwide to all eligible agricultural producers.  Producers may apply at any time for CSP; however, at least one ranking period will occur each year during which time applications will be selected for funding.  In Ohio, the current ranking period will end September 30, 2009.  You must have your application completed and turned into the NRCS office by that date.

If an applicant is selected for CSP funding, a contract will be developed with NRCS.  The contract length is 5 years, with an option to extend the contract for another 5 years at the end of the first 5-year period.

The CSP has an annual payment limitation of $40,000 and contracts must cover all the eligible land in the entire operation.  A person or legal entity cannot exceed $200,000 for all CSP contracts entered into during any 5-year period.

All conservation activities will be subject to field verification prior to payments being made.  Payments for completed conservation activities will be made in the year after the conservation activities are implemented.

To learn more about CSP you can visit

www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CSP_home.html

or visit your local County NRCS field office. Interested producers are encouraged to fill out the Self-Screening Checklist and bring it to the nearest NRCS office. The Checklist is available at the WEB site listed above or in the field office. Call 740-653-5320 or another NRCS office for more information.

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