NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program Enhancement Summary

Connecticut

NRCS's natural resources conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty.

To learn more see CSP and CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Stewardship Program Enhancement Summary:
by Conservation Practices related to: Cropland Soil Quality | Cropland Soil Health & Sustainability | Cropland Soil Health Management System (SHMS) | Fish & Wildlife Habitat | Forest Land Conservation | Grazing Land Conservation | Water Quality

Conservation Practices Related to Cropland Soil Quality

The following table includes practices that are related to Cropland Soil Quality Management. The six components of soil quality management are: enhancing organic matter, avoiding excessive tillage, managing pests and nutrients efficiently, preventing soil compaction, keeping the ground covered, and diversifying cropping systems. Choosing specific practices within each component depends on the situation since different types of soil respond differently to the same practice. Each combination of soil type and land use calls for a different set of practices to enhance soil quality. Note that only practices applied on cropland or hay land are included.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Cropland Soil Quality Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide food habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327136Z1

4
 1
 1
 1





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide habitat continuity for pollinators and beneficial insects E327139Z

4
 4
 4
 2





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects E327A





0
 1



Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328106Z2

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328F









37
 6
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Forage harvest to reduce water quality impacts by utilization of excess soil nutrients E328I









99
 19
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340106Z2 44
 7
 45
 8
 59
 15
 98
 21
 7
 5

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340107Z

24
 4
 47
 9
 45
 8
 1
 1
 1
 1
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce water quality degradation by utilizing excess soil nutrients-ground water E340119Z

4
 1
 4
 1
 4
 1
 4
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









380
 67
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









40
 7
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340F









14
 3
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to suppress excessive weed pressures and break pest cycles E340H









5
 2
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture for soil organic matter improvement E512106Z1

2
 1







Mulching - Enhancements E484 Mulching to improve soil health E484106Z

0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1

Mulching - Enhancements E484 Mulching to improve soil health E484A









22
 5
Mulching - Enhancements E484 Mulching with natural materials in specialty crops for weed control E484C





0
 1
 3
 3
 6
 4
Nutrient Management - Enhancements E590 Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses E590A









573
 112
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E345106Z









9
 2
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to reduce water erosion E329101Z

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329106Z

163
 31
 168
 34
 168
 34
 168
 33

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to increase plant-available moisture: irrigation water E329114Z





1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329D









381
 69
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Cropland Soil Health & Sustainability

The following table includes practices that are related to Cropland Soil Health & Sustainability. This measure is intended as a step-wise measure to show progress towards implementing a Soil Health Management System (SHMS). A SHMS is defined as a collection of NRCS conservation practices that focuses on maintaining or enhancing soil health by addressing four soil health management principles: minimize disturbance, maximize soil cover, maximize biodiversity and maximize presence of living roots. Note that only practices applied on cropland are included. Also at least two eligible conservation practices or a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) bundle must be applied during the fiscal year. Eligible conservation practices are those that indicate progress toward a SHMS and include: Conservation Crop Rotation, Residue and Tillage Management (No Till and Reduced Till), Cover Crop, and corresponding CSP activities and bundles. Some CSP bundles count as two eligible practices.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Cropland Soil Health & Sustainability Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328106Z2

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328F









37
 6
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340106Z2

44
 7
 49
 11
 94
 18
 5
 3

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340107Z

24
 4

45
 8
 1
 1
 1
 1
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









370
 65
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









37
 6
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to reduce water erosion E329101Z

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329106Z

44
 7
 49
 11
 49
 11
 5
 3

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to increase plant-available moisture: irrigation water E329114Z





1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329D









370
 65
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Cropland Soil Health Management System (SHMS)

The following table includes practices that are related to Cropland SHMS or cropland on which a system of practices to sustain or improve soil health was applied during the fiscal year. A SHMS is defined as a collection of NRCS conservation practices that focuses on maintaining or enhancing soil health by addressing four soil health management principles: minimize disturbance, maximize soil cover, maximize biodiversity and maximize presence of living roots. Note that only practices applied on cropland are included. Three eligible core conservation practices must be in place. They are: Conservation Crop Rotation, Residue and Tillage Management (No Till or Reduced Till), Cover Crop, and corresponding CSP activities and bundles. Some CSP bundles fulfil the requirements of a Cropland SHMS.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Cropland Soil Health Management System (SHMS) Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328106Z2

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340107Z

5
 1

10
 2



Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









8
 4
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to reduce water erosion E329101Z

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329D









8
 4
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Fish & Wildlife Habitat

The following table includes practices that are related to Fish & Wildlife Habitat Management. The environment that NRCS helps its clients conserve, maintain, and improve is also habitat for fish & wildlife and other biological resources. While every practice and management action taken on the land has some effect on biological resources, the following practices are specifically related to fish & wildlife habitat.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Fish & Wildlife Habitat Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Access Control - Enhancements E472 Manage livestock access to streams/ditches/other waterbodies to reduce nutrients in surface water E472118Z









3
 3
Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide food habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327136Z1

11
 3
 5
 2
 0
 1



Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide cover and shelter habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327137Z



4
 1





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide habitat continuity for pollinators and beneficial insects E327139Z

4
 4
 8
 3





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects E327A





1
 2



Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Establish Monarch butterfly habitat E327B









1
 1
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management - Enhancements E645 Manage existing shrub thickets to provide adequate shelter for wildlife E645B









44
 1
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Forest Land Conservation

The following table includes practices that are related to Forest Land Conservation. The goals of these practices are to restore and protect forest resources and improve fish and wildlife habitat and are related to: tree planting; forest stand improvement, thinning; prescribed burning; and controlling invasive plants. Note that only practices applied on grazed forest or forest land are included.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Forest Land Conservation Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666137Z1

57
 1
 95
 2





Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666O









127
 2
Herbaceous Weed Control - Enhancements E315 Herbaceous weed control (plant pest pressures) for desired plant communities/habitats E315134Z



81
 1
 81
 1
 81
 1
 81
 1
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Tree/shrub planting for wildlife food E612136Z



57
 1





Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities E612C









44
 1
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management - Enhancements E645 Manage existing shrub thickets to provide adequate shelter for wildlife E645B









44
 1
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Grazing Land Conservation

The following table includes practices that are related to Grazing Land Conservation. NRCS is committed to conserving and enhancing private grazing land resources. This includes conservation practices which: conserve and improve wildlife habitat on private grazing land; conserve and improve fish habitat and aquatic systems through grazing land conservation treatment; protect and improve water quality; improve the dependability and consistency of water supplies; and identify and manage weed, noxious weed, and brush encroachment problems. Note that only practices applied on grazed range, grazed forest, native and naturalized pasture, or pasture land are included.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Grazing Land Conservation Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Forage plantings that can help increase organic matter in depleted soils E512106Z2

3
 1







Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of cover and shelter for wildlife E528137Z1





6
 3
 6
 3
 6
 3
Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Implementing Bale or Swath Grazing to increase organic matter and reduce nutrients in surface water E528P









30
 1
Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Management Intensive Rotational Grazing E528R









17
 5
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

Conservation Practices Related to Water Quality

The following table includes practices that are related to Water Quality. Water quality is an indicator of the health of our environment and reflects what occurs on the land. The primary water quality issues from agriculture are sediment, nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and in some parts of the country, salinity. Using conservation practices to improve land in an environmentally sound manner will result in better water quality for drinking, recreation, wildlife, fisheries and industry.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice (including practice count) and Fiscal Year
Water Quality Practices
Practice Name Practice Code Enhancement Name Enhancement Code 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Access Control - Enhancements E472 Manage livestock access to streams/ditches/other waterbodies to reduce nutrients in surface water E472118Z









3
 3
Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide food habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327136Z1

11
 3
 5
 2
 0
 1



Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide cover and shelter habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327137Z



4
 1





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide habitat continuity for pollinators and beneficial insects E327139Z

4
 4
 8
 3





Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects E327A





1
 2



Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Establish Monarch butterfly habitat E327B









1
 1
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328106Z2

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E328F









37
 6
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Forage harvest to reduce water quality impacts by utilization of excess soil nutrients E328I









99
 19
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340106Z2 44
 7
 45
 8
 59
 15
 98
 21
 7
 5

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340107Z

24
 4
 47
 9
 45
 8
 1
 1
 1
 1
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce water quality degradation by utilizing excess soil nutrients-ground water E340119Z

4
 1
 4
 1
 4
 1
 4
 1

Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









380
 67
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









40
 7
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to minimize soil compaction E340F









14
 3
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to suppress excessive weed pressures and break pest cycles E340H









5
 2
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666137Z1



95
 2





Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666O









127
 2
Mulching - Enhancements E484 Mulching to improve soil health E484106Z

0
 1







Nutrient Management - Enhancements E590 Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses E590A









573
 112
Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of cover and shelter for wildlife E528137Z1





6
 3
 6
 3
 6
 3
Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Implementing Bale or Swath Grazing to increase organic matter and reduce nutrients in surface water E528P









30
 1
Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Management Intensive Rotational Grazing E528R









17
 5
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E345106Z









9
 2
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to reduce water erosion E329101Z

1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329106Z

163
 31
 168
 34
 168
 34
 168
 33

Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till to increase plant-available moisture: irrigation water E329114Z





1
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed - Enhancements E329 No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E329D









381
 69
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities E612132Z



1
 2





Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Adding food-producing trees and shrubs to existing plantings E612133X1



1
 2





Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Tree/shrub planting for wildlife food E612136Z



163
 4



5
 1
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities E612C









44
 1
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Adding food-producing trees and shrubs to existing plantings E612D









16
 4
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database (NPAD), October 2022.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices and fiscal years.
• Totals over detailed enhancements may not exactly match totals in main table due to rounding.
To learn more about CSP bundles and enhancements, please see CSP Enhancements and Bundles

More Information

The data in this report in CSV format (file includes all titles and table notes) can be downloaded here.

Back to the Conservation Profile report.

Return to the RCA Data Viewer.

For more information about NRCS Conservation Programs, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/

Citation for this website:
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
National Planning and Agreements Database October (NPAD) October 2022
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC. 31 March 2023*
<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/rca-data-viewer/>
*[use date the website was accessed]