The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2019 is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical conservation program, which helps agricultural producers take the conservation activities on their farm or ranch to the next level.
“CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals,” said Sheldon Hightower, Tennessee NRCS State Conservationist. “It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled.”
While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by May 10, 2019, to ensure their applications are considered for 2019 funding.
Changes to the Program
The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from now until 2023, and it makes some important improvements to the program. These updates include:
•NRCS now enrolls eligible, high ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres. For fiscal year2019, NRCS can spend up to $700 million in the program, which covers part of the cost for producersimplementing new conservation activities and maintaining their existing activities.
•Higher payment rates are now available for certain conservation activities, including cover crops andresource conserving crop rotations.
•CSP now provides specific support for organic and for transitioning to organic production activitiesand a special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have maintained croplandbase acres.
