North Dakota NRCS Announces Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Signup - April 15, 2022
North Dakota NRCS has set the next batching period deadline for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic of April 15, 2022 for applications to be considered for funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should contact their local NRCS Field Office to discuss how to submit applications by April 15, 2022, to ensure their applications are considered for 2022 funding.
The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical conservation program which helps agricultural producers take the conservation activities on their farm or ranch to the next level.
Changes to the Program
The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from 2019 until 2023, and it makes some important improvements to the program. These updates include:
The NRCS now enrolls eligible, high ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres and covers part of the cost for producers implementing new conservation activities and maintaining their existing activities. Higher payment rates are now available for certain conservation activities including cover crops and resource conserving crop rotations. The CSP now provides specific support for organic farmers and for those transitioning to organic production activities, along with special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have maintained cropland base acres. A participant may now enroll public land on which they are the operator.
About the Program
The CSP is offered in North Dakota through continuous sign-ups. The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. The CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forestland.
Contact:
Jarvis R. Keney
Assistant State Conservationist (Programs)
USDA-NRCS
(701) 530-2005
jarvis.keney@usda.gov