Contact:
Anita Brown (530) 792-5644
Alan Forkey (530)792-5653

DAVIS, Calif., May 12, 2010—The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites landowners to apply now for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The deadline to be considered for the next ranking and funding period is June 11, 2010.

"CSP is an opportunity tailor-made for our conservation-minded ranchers and farmers to continue to achieve even higher levels of conservation stewardship," says Ed Burton, NRCS State Conservationist in California.

Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland. Individuals, entities, and Indian Tribes operating agricultural or private non-industrial private forestland may be eligible for the program.

Under the interim final rule published July 29, 2009, eligible producers may submit an application to enroll eligible land in CSP on a continuous basis. Producers are encouraged to apply for CSP now to ensure their applications will be considered during the next funding and ranking period. However, they can make their final decision to participate in the program once the CSP final rule is issued. The final rule will establish the policies and procedures for the program.

Potential applicants are encouraged to use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine if the new program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices or on the NRCS Web site at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/index.html.

For more information about CSP, please visit the CSP Web site.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is celebrating its 75th year of helping people help the land.

-NRCS-

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

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