USDA-NRCS Announces Additional Application Date for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

HARRISBURG, PA, March 7, 2023 - Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting additional applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The second deadline for CSP Classic applications to be considered for funding in Pennsylvania is April 20, 2023. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques.

“CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals,” said Denise Coleman, NRCS state conservationist in Pennsylvania. “It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled.”

While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure their applications are considered for 2023 funding.

About CSP

CSP is offered through continuous signups. The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural land.  A few examples of activities that could be contracted through CSP include use of low nitrogen requiring crop rotation, pest management and precision ag techniques on cropland, forage testing and soil health assessments on pasture, stream buffer and habitat improvements for fish and wildlife, restoring native plant communities and sequestering carbon on forest land, and installing energy improvements on the farmstead.  Contact your local office to discuss options that may work on your land.

For additional information about CSP, or to take advantage of NRCS technical assistance and expertise or federally funded conservation on your farm or land, please contact your local USDA NRCS Field Office (found at www.farmers.gov/service-center-locator), or visit our website at www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov for applications and program information.