NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program Enhancement Summary

Maine

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 | 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 cover and shelter habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327137Z



2
1






Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Soil health crop rotation E328106Z1





39
1




Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Leave standing grain crops unharvested to benefit wildlife food sources E328136Z





39
1




Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Leave standing grain crops unharvested to benefit wildlife E328D









4
1
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce water erosion E340101Z



17
1
16
1
7
1


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

163
18
219
18




55
3
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4



9
1






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



25
3


58
1


Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce soil erosion E340A







387
11
288
18
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









267
9
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









278
9
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to reduce water induced erosion along the edge(s) of a field E386101Z





8
1




Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to increase carbon storage along the edge(s) of the field E386106Z









2
1
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field E386128Z





15
1


9
1
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field border to provide wildlife food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field E386136Z





5
1




Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture to reduce water erosion E512101Z1

65
3








Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Forage plantings that help increase organic matter in depleted soils E512D









31
1
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing precision pesticide application techniques E595116X



883
59
883
59


883
59
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing IPM PAMS techniques E595116Z

1,167
62
1,593
83
1,593
83


426
21
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing precision pesticide application techniques E595A









1,863
91
Mulching - Enhancements E484 Mulching with natural materials in specialty crops for weed control E484C







18
1


Nutrient Management - Enhancements E590 Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risks to air quality - emissions of GHGs E590130Z



37
1






Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to reduce tillage induced particulate matter E345128Z





8
1




Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion E345A







419
27
160
7
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E345D







233
8
252
14
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
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340106Z2

98
10








Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce soil erosion E340A







233
8
252
14
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









159
6
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion E345A









160
7
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E345D







233
8
252
14
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





7
2




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

1
1
3
1






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



65
2
14
2




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



6
1
2
1




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









96
1
Streambank and Shoreline Protection - Enhancements E580 Stream corridor bank stability improvement E580105Z







161
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
Brush Management - Enhancements E314 Brush management for improved structure and composition E314133Z



54
1
84
2




Brush Management - Enhancements E314 Brush management to improve wildlife habitat E314A









58
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Maintaining and improving forest soil quality E666106Z2





231
3




Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Maintaining and improving forest soil quality by limiting compaction E666107Z

7
2








Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Crop tree management for mast production E666132Z1



74
2
46
1
58
2
136
3
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Forest Stand Improvement to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands E666133X





91
2


59
2
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Creating structural diversity with patch openings E666133Z1



56
1






Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Enhance development of the forest understory to create conditions resistant to pests E666134Z



54
1
54
1
54
1


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



637
5
204
2
433
3
303
3
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Summer roosting habitat for native forest-dwelling bat species E666137Z2

52
2








Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Create patch openings to enhance wildlife cover and shelter E666137Z6



56
1
30
1




Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Crop tree management for mast production E666I







156
1
28
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Facilitating oak forest regeneration E666J









156
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Creating structural diversity with patch openings E666K









96
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666O







186
1
1,915
7
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Sugarbush management E612133X3





94
1




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



28
1






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









401
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
Fence - Enhancements E382 Incorporating wildlife friendly fencing for connectivity of wildlife food resources E382136Z

36
2








Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Forage plantings that can help increase organic matter in depleted soils E512106Z2



48
1






Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Native grasses or legumes in forage base to improve plant productivity and health E512132Z2





161
1




Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Establishing native grass or legumes in forage base to improve the plant community E512F









13
1
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect and/or monarch habitat E512I









2
1
Herbaceous Weed Control - Enhancements E315 Herbaceous weed control (plant pest pressures) for desired plant communities/habitats E315134Z









172
1
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing IPM PAMS techniques E595116Z



13
1
13
1




Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Clipping mature forages to set back vegetative growth for improved forage quality E528O









73
11
Streambank and Shoreline Protection - Enhancements E580 Stream corridor bank stability improvement E580105Z







161
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 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





7
2




Brush Management - Enhancements E314 Brush management for improved structure and composition E314133Z



54
1
84
2




Brush Management - Enhancements E314 Brush management to improve wildlife habitat E314A









58
1
Conservation Cover - Enhancements E327 Conservation cover to provide food habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects E327136Z1

1
1
3
1






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



65
2
14
2




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



6
1
2
1




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









96
1
Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Soil health crop rotation E328106Z1





39
1




Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Leave standing grain crops unharvested to benefit wildlife food sources E328136Z





39
1




Conservation Crop Rotation - Enhancements E328 Leave standing grain crops unharvested to benefit wildlife E328D









4
1
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce water erosion E340101Z



17
1
16
1
7
1


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

163
18
219
18




55
3
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of SHA to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase SOM E340106Z4



9
1






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



25
3


58
1


Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Cover crop to reduce soil erosion E340A







387
11
288
18
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter E340C









267
9
Cover Crop - Enhancements E340 Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health E340E









278
9
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to reduce water induced erosion along the edge(s) of a field E386101Z





8
1




Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to increase carbon storage along the edge(s) of the field E386106Z









2
1
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field E386128Z





15
1


9
1
Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field border to provide wildlife food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field E386136Z





5
1




Field Border - Enhancements E386 Enhanced field borders to increase wildlife food and habitat along the edge(s) of a field E386E









1
1
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Forage plantings that can help increase organic matter in depleted soils E512106Z2



48
1






Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Native grasses or legumes in forage base to improve plant productivity and health E512132Z2





161
1




Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect habitat continuity (space) E512139Z2





1
1




Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Forage plantings that help increase organic matter in depleted soils E512D









31
1
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Establishing native grass or legumes in forage base to improve the plant community E512F









13
1
Forage and Biomass Planting - Enhancements E512 Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect and/or monarch habitat E512I









2
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Maintaining and improving forest soil quality E666106Z2





231
3




Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Crop tree management for mast production E666132Z1



74
2
46
1
58
2
136
3
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Forest Stand Improvement to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands E666133X





91
2


59
2
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Creating structural diversity with patch openings E666133Z1



56
1






Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Enhance development of the forest understory to create conditions resistant to pests E666134Z



54
1
54
1
54
1


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



637
5
204
2
433
3
303
3
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Create patch openings to enhance wildlife cover and shelter E666137Z6



56
1
30
1




Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Crop tree management for mast production E666I







156
1
28
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Facilitating oak forest regeneration E666J









156
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Creating structural diversity with patch openings E666K









96
1
Forest Stand Improvement - Enhancements E666 Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat E666O







186
1
1,915
7
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing precision pesticide application techniques E595116X



883
59
883
59


883
59
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing IPM PAMS techniques E595116Z

1,167
62
1,593
83
1,593
83


426
21
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Enhancements E595 Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing precision pesticide application techniques E595A









1,863
91
Nutrient Management - Enhancements E590 Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risks to air quality - emissions of GHGs E590130Z



37
1






Prescribed Grazing - Enhancements E528 Clipping mature forages to set back vegetative growth for improved forage quality E528O









73
11
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to reduce tillage induced particulate matter E345128Z





8
1




Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion E345A







419
27
160
7
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till - Enhancements E345 Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content E345D







233
8
252
14
Streambank and Shoreline Protection - Enhancements E580 Stream corridor bank stability improvement E580105Z







161
1


Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Planting for high carbon sequestration rate E612130Z



2
1


3
1


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



16
5
34
2
17
2


Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Cultural plantings E612133X2



2
1
10
1
12
2


Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Sugarbush management E612133X3





97
2




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



28
1






Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Tree/shrub planting for wildlife cover E612137Z





4
1




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









401
1
Tree/Shrub Establishment - Enhancements E612 Cultural plantings E612E









7
2
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.

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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]