USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers they are still seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The changes include Increasing payment rates for adoption of cover crop rotations, Introducing a new supplemental payment for advanced grazing management, Creating one-time payment for developing a comprehensive conservation plan and Providing specific support for organic and transitioning to organic production activities. CSP is the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating land, and is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities.
As part of implementing the 2018 Farm Bill, NRCS has streamlined CSP by basing contracts on funds instead of acres, bringing it in line with the agency’s other large conservation program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
NRCS invites comments on this interim rule through January 13, 2020. Electronic comments must be submitted through regulations.gov under Docket ID NRCS-2019-0020.
For more information on how to sign up for CSP in your state, visit your local NRCS field office.