Conservation Stewardship Program renewal applications will be accepted through March 31. More than 11,000 contracts are set to expire this year.

CSP is USDA’s largest working lands conservation program with more than 90 million acres enrolled.

“In fiscal year 2020, NRCS helped enhance 9.3 million acres of land enrolled in CSP,” said Terry Cosby, acting Chief for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “CSP continues to prove its worth by helping farmers and ranchers advance their business operations through conservation enhancements on their land that sustain the natural resources that improve productivity and their bottom lines.”

Participants with existing CSP contracts that close on Dec. 31, 2021, can renew their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional conservation practices on their land. Applications to renew expiring contracts are due by March 31.

About the program

CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial forestland as well as tribal lands. The program helps producers build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operations. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and resiliency to weather extremes. It also encourages the adoption of new technologies and innovative management techniques.

Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, buffer strips, pollinator and beneficial insect habitat and soil health activities while maintaining active agricultural production on their land.

Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorize NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments through 2023 and make additional improvements to the program, including higher payment rates for specific conservation activities on working lands.

Producers interested in contract renewals or applying for CSP for the first time should visit the CSP webpage or contact their local USDA service center.

Source: USDA, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.