Thursday, August 07, 2008

LINCOLN, Neb – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Arlen Lancaster today announced that producers in 51 eligible watersheds nationwide will have two additional weeks to apply for the Conservation Security Program (CSP). The sign-up now ends on May 30, 2008.

According to Steve Chick, NRCS state conservationist, this extension is good news for land owners and operators in the Middle Republican watershed sign-up area, which includes portions of Phelps, Harlan, Franklin, Kearney, Webster, Nuckolls and Thayer counties in south central Nebraska, and portions of Phillips, Smith, Jewell and Republic counties in north central Kansas.

Chief Lancaster said, “NRCS recognizes that farmers and ranchers are busy in their fields. Stormy weather around the country has also delayed planting.  We are extending the sign-up as much as possible to allow producers adequate time to gather natural resource information and complete the required self-assessment and applicant interview. This two-week extension represents the fullest accommodation we can make and deliver a program this year.”

A sign-up extension announcement is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2008.  Originally, the CSP sign-up was scheduled to end May 16, 2008.

CSP, a voluntary program, encourages and rewards producers who practice outstanding stewardship on working agricultural land by offering financial incentives that increase with the level of conservation effort. Soil and water quality are the primary focus of this program; however, program goals also include improved wildlife habitat, air quality, and environmentally responsible energy production.

“CSP works with landowners to reward them for their good past efforts and provides incentives to move to the next level of natural resource conservation.  The more conservation enhancements applied to the land, the bigger the incentive payment,” Chick said.

NRCS officials report the sign-up for CSP has been steady in Nebraska.  NRCS has been assisting producers with their applications for the program. 

To apply for CSP, potential participants need to complete a CSP self-assessment workbook to find out if their operation meets the requirements of the program.  The producer then submits the completed self-assessment workbook to the local NRCS office during the sign-up period and meets with NRCS personnel to go over any additional needed documentation.  NRCS will then determine if eligibility requirements are met and provide options for the producer’s decision on enrollment category placement.

“Producers in the Middle Republican watershed are encouraged to learn more about CSP, see if they are eligible, and find out how they may be financially compensated for the conservation measures on their land,” Chick said.

Additional information on CSP, including eligible watershed maps and the CSP self-assessment workbook, is available at local NRCS offices within the Middle Republican watershed sign-up area or at www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.