USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are now accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications for the fiscal year 2021.
Through CSP, NRCS helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and management techniques. Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorized NRCS to makes a few improvements to the program. These updates include:
· NRCS now enrolling eligible applications based on dollars rather than acres. For fiscal 2021, NRCS in Florida can spend up to $3 million in the program, which covers part of the cost for producers implementing new conservation activities and maintaining their existing activities in all eligible land such as, private and tribal agricultural lands, cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial private forestland (NIPF), farmstead and Associated Ag Land.
· Higher payment rates are also now available for certain conservation activities, including cover crops and resource-conserving crop rotations.
· And the annual payment limitation of $40,000 no longer applies.
While applications are accepted year-round, those interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure their applications are considered for 2021 funding. The deadline for applications is March 26.
For additional information about CSP, contact your local USDA service center.