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Source: USDA, 10/8/20
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released the final rule
for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The
rule makes updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018
Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others.CSP
is offered in all 50 states and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through
continuous signups. The program provides many benefits, including increased
crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased
resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland,
pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural
land under Indian tribe jurisdiction. “NRCS has prioritized the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, including important changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program, which is designed to help farmers put more robust conservation activities in place,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The final rule better aligns CSP with NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through common applications, contracting operations, conservation planning, conservation practices, and related administrative procedures. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that helps promote agricultural production and environmental quality by providing producers financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices on working agricultural lands. NRCS
received more than 600 comments on an interim final rule that was published in
November 2019. Based on that feedback, the agency made the following changes in
the final rule:
- Added emphasis to
enhancing soil health as a way that program participants can achieve
program goals.
- Modified
language pertaining to locally led conservation by specifying that NRCS
will solicit input from the State Technical Committees and by adding new
Tribal Conservation Advisory Councils.
- Specified that, with local working groups, these entities will “develop state-level technical, outreach and program materials.”
- Made minor edits to and amended definitions for “enhancement,” “management-intensive rotational grazing,” and “resource-conserving crop.”
- Provided clarity
to producers by adjusting language related to the set-aside for
historically underserved producers.
- Adjusted the
language for early start waivers to align with EQIP and reflect that the
provision applies only to new conservation activities.
- Allowed for more
than one contract renewal but extend the two-year program ineligibility
period to include those who apply for renewal and are not selected.
Initial
updates to CSP included in the interim final rule:
- Increased payment
rates for adoption of cover crop rotations.
- Introduced a new
supplemental payment for advanced grazing management.
- Created a
one-time payment for developing a comprehensive conservation plan.
- Provided specific
support for organic and transitioning to organic production activities.
NRCS
state offices announce sign-up periods for CSP. Additionally, existing CSP
participants may have an opportunity to renew their contracts in the first half
of the fifth year of their five-year contract. CSP helps producers enhance the conservation activities on their working lands, it contributes to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda of reducing
the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half by 2050. Earlier this
year, Secretary Perdue announced the department-wide initiative to align
resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better
meet future global demands. View
the final rule on the Federal Register. For more information on how to sign up for CSP in your state, visit your state website from nrcs.usda.gov, or contact your local
NRCS field office.
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