NRCS in Maryland is accepting contract renewal applications from current Conservation Stewardship Program participants.  Participants in the final year of their initial contract may be eligible to renew for an additional 5-year term. 

Applications to renew expiring contracts are due by Friday, June 20, 2025 to be considered for funding in the current cycle.  

Participants who have met the terms of their initial contract and who agree to implement more conservation activities can compete for a renewal contract. The participant must agree to meet or exceed two additional priority resource concerns or agree to adopt or improve conservation activities to achieve higher levels of conservation for two existing priority resource concerns.

Popular conservation activities in Maryland include advanced cover crops, prescribed grazing, enhanced nutrient management, and pollinator habitat. CSP also encourages the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and new management techniques such as precision agriculture applications and new soil amendments to improve water quality.

CSP 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, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe.

For additional information or to apply for CSP renewal, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. 

You can watch how farmers and ranchers across the country are implementing CSP and other conservation activities in our Conservation at Work video series. For example, see how producers are using the cover crop conservation practice to improve soil health, water efficiency, reduce use of fertilizer and improve pest control.