conservation

CSP Signup in Georgia Ends June 30

Clint Thompson Georgia

The cutoff period for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications in Georgia to be considered for funding this year is June 30. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques.

Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorize NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from now until 2023 and makes some improvements to the program. These updates include NRCS now enrolling eligible, high-ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres. Higher payment rates are now available under the 2018 Farm Bill for certain conservation activities, including cover crops and resource conserving crop rotations. And it 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 service center or go to the GA NRCS website.