Wednesday, March 31 was the deadline that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had set for accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications. But, that date has been extended one week, with the new deadline now being April 7. This is for participants with existing CSP contracts that close on December 31, 2021.
Participants with existing CSP contracts that close at the end of year can benefit from recent program changes by renewing their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional conservation practices on their land.
CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial forestland as well as tribal lands. The program helps producers build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operations. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and resiliency to weather extremes.
Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, buffer strips, pollinator and beneficial insect habitat and soil health activities while maintaining active agricultural production on their land.
Producers interested in contract renewals or applying for CSP for the first time should visit the CSP webpage or contact their local USDA service center.