CSP FY 2012 Ranking Period One
The 2012-1 ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ended January 27, 2012. Applications received after January 27, 2012 will be considered for the next ranking period.
Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS Office.
FY 2012 Ranking Period One CSP Extension News Release
FY 2012 Ranking Period One CSP Sign-up News Release
FY 2012 Producer Self-Screening Checklist
FY 2012 Conservation Program Application NRCS-CPA-1200
FY 2012 Ranking Period One Job Sheets
FY 2012 Ranking Period One Activity List
Introduction
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) presents a significant shift in how NRCS provides conservation program payments. CSP participants will receive an annual land use payment for operation-level environmental benefits they produce. Under CSP, participants are paid for conservation performance: the higher the operational performance, the higher their payment.
Program Description
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by:
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Undertaking additional conservation activities; and
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Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.
CSP is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land in all 50 States and the Caribbean and Pacific Islands Areas. The program provides equitable access to all producers, regardless of operation size, crops produced, or geographic location. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for CSP to the NRCS Chief.
2012 Payment for Performance Payment Rates
The 2012 Payment for Performance payment rates fact sheet is available online and as a PDF download (PDF, 36KB).
CSP Fact Sheet
The CSP program fact sheet is available for download and printing (PDF, 45KB).
CSP Federal Register Rules
Interim Final Rule (Request for Comments)
Final Rule
Eligible Lands
Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land.
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cropland
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grassland
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prairie land
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improved pastureland
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rangeland
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nonindustrial private forest lands
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agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe
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and other private agricultural land (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used for the production of livestock) on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed.
How CSP Works
CSP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities on agricultural land and nonindustrial private forest land. NRCS will make CSP available nationwide on a continuous application basis.
The State Conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical Committee and local work groups, will focus program impacts on natural resources that are of specific concern for a State, or the specific geographic areas within a State. Applications will be evaluated relative to other applications addressing similar priority resource concerns to facilitate a competitive ranking process among applicants within a State who face similar resource challenges.
The entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land operated substantially separate that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract.
CSP offers participants two possible types of payments:
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Annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities
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Supple mental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations
Is CSP Right For Me?
You can play a large role in determining whether or not CSP is right for you. Here's how:
Conservation Stewardship Self-Screening Checklist
Download and fill out the 2012 Conservation Stewardship Self-Screening Checklist (PDF, 115KB)
You don't have to turn it in to NRCS; it's there to help you determine for CSP is right for you. If you have questions regarding the Checklist, please contact your local NRCS office.
Activity Lists
Download and look over a Conservation Program Activity List to identify new activities you may be interested in to install or adopt.
"Enhancement" means a type of conservation activity used to treat natural resources and greatly improve conservation performance.
Enhancements are installed at a level of management intensity which exceeds the sustainable level for a given resource concern.
Enhancements directly related to a practice standard are applied in a manner that exceeds the minimum treatment requirements of the standard.
Conservation Activity List Ranking Period One 2012
Conservation Activity List Ranking Period One 2011
Conservation Activity List Ranking Period Two 2010
Conservation Activity List Ranking Period One 2010
Enhancement Activity Job Sheets
"Enhancement" means a type of conservation activity used to treat natural resources and improve conservation performance.
Enhancements are installed at a level of management intensity that exceeds the sustainable level for a given resource concern, and those directly related to a practice standard are applied in a manner that exceeds the minimum treatment requirements of the standard.
FY 2011 Ranking Period One Job Sheets
FY 2010 Ranking Period Two Job Sheets
FY 2010 Ranking Period One Job Sheets
Operations Baseline Data Questions
To initiate the use of the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT) during the CSP application process, you'll work with NRCS field personnel to define your Operation Baseline Data. The CMT will use this data, in part, to determine the conservation performance for existing and additional conservation activities.
The documents below are copies of the Operation Baseline Data questions, grouped by land use. You can download and review the questions, and begin drafting responses to start the process before you meet with your local NRCS office.
Cropland Operation Baseline Data Questions
Forestland Operation Baseline Data Questions
Pastureland Operation Baseline Data Questions
Rangeland Operation Baseline Data Questions
Conservation Measurement Tool Inventory (CMT) Questions
As part of the CSP application process, you'll work with NRCS field personnel to complete your resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and additional conservation activities.
The documents below are copies of the resource inventory questions, grouped by land use. You can download and review the questions, and begin drafting responses to start resource inventory process before you complete the CMT in your local NRCS office.
2012 Ranking Period One CMT NIPF General Questions (PDF, 16KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool General Questions (PDF, 16KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool Cropland Questions (PDF, 40KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool Forest Land Questions (PDF, 29KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool Pastureland Questions (PDF, 26KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool Rangeland Questions (PDF, 21KB)
2012 Ranking Period One CMT Tool Water Questions (PDF, 19KB)
Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT) Scoring Process
NRCS will use the CMT to evaluate CSP applications through a point-based system to estimate environmental benefits.
The CMT evaluates existing and proposed new activities to calculate conservation performance points which will be used for ranking and payment purposes.
Conservation performance points are programmed in the CMT, along with all controls, filters, and calculations.
A scientific validation of CMT is underway and future modifications to these points may be needed.
CSP Application
Conservation Program Application NRCS-CPA-1200
FY 2011 Program Data
Contracts And Dollars Obligated Data
FY 2010 Total And Ranking Period One Results
FY 2010 Total Results - Number of Contracts, Acres Treated and Dollars Obligated
FY 2010 Ranking Period One Results
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