conservation

Alabama NRCS Promotes Continuous Signup

Clint Thompson Alabama

From time to time we talk about signup deadlines for various programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). But NRCS in Alabama wants to remind producers all of the programs they offer do have continuous signup. Alabama State Conservationist, Ben Malone, says that does include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

And Malone says another popular program they offer is the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorize NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from now until 2023 and makes some improvements to the program. This includes NRCS now enrolling eligible, high-ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres.

Higher payment rates are also now available under the 2018 Farm Bill for certain conservation activities, including cover crops and resource conserving crop rotations. Plus, CSP provides specific support for organic and for transitioning to organic production activities and a special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have maintained cropland base acres. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe.

For additional information contact your local USDA service center or go to the AL NRCS website.