USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking applicants for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers who manage natural resources on their farm to address additional conservation activities; and to improve, maintain, and manage existing conservation activities.  

Funding for CSP is anticipated to be available soon.  Farmers can submit applications for CSP anytime throughout the year, and signed application are not binding. However, NRCS will begin ranking all signed CSP applications for available funding on January 13, 2012. Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit.  For an application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.  

Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, improved pastureland, nonindustrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used for the production of livestock) on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed.

The entire agricultural operation must be enrolled and must include all agricultural land that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract.
CSP offers participants two possible types of payments:
1. Annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities; and
2. Supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations.
Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov.  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.