The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up. Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on previous conservation efforts and building climate resiliency should consider one of two funding opportunities available and apply by March 31.
This year, NRCS will offer the statewide Classic CSP sign-up option for all producers in Georgia, as well as a targeted sign-up utilizing funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
“The Conservation Stewardship Program continues to help our customers take conservation to the next level,” said Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS in Georgia. “This sign-up, including the IRA funding will help even more agricultural producers and forest landowners build a more climate resilient Georgia.”
CSP-Classic provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction.
Special provisions are available for historically underserved producers, which include those considered beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited resource as well as military veterans. These producers have targeted funds.
For the CSP-IRA funded portion of this year’s sign-up, agricultural producers in Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, and Seminole counties can apply for Soil Health focused practices and enhancements. Whereas producers and forest landowners in Bleckley, Dodge, Emmanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington, Wheeler, and Wilkinson counties can apply for Agroforestry, Forestry and Upland Wildlife Habitat practices and enhancements.
NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but to be included in this funding batch, interested producers should contact their local USDA Service Center by March 31, 2023.