Conservation Security Program

Updated 06/14/10

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) was not reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and is no longer available. Prior year recipients may need to refer to this page for information. A new program in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Conservation Stewardship Program, is very similar to the Conservation Security Program.

Program Description

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program is available in all 50 States, the Caribbean Area and the Pacific Basin area. The program provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the program.

Internal Revenue Services Ruling on CSP Payments

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IRS Ruling (26.6 KB)

CSP Watershed Information

CSP Comments
Public comments on the Amendment to the Interim Final Rule are available for viewing. Click on the link below, or to view comments at our headquarters office in Washington, DC, please call us at 202-720-1845.

Comments on the Amendment to the Interim Final Rule (3/25/05)

CSP Fact Sheets, Brochures, Key Points, and Other Informational Documents

The following documents requires Adobe Acrobat reader.

CSP CCC1200 and Appendix
CSP Fact Sheet
CSP Questions and Answers
CSP Program Description
Watershed Selection Key Points (80.7 KB)
Watershed Selection Questions and Answers (79 KB)
Watershed Approach Key Points (32.28 KB)
Watershed Approach Questions and Answers (62.82 KB)

CSP Energy Job Sheets

Why a Watershed Approach is being Used