Skip to main content
News

NRCS in West Virginia Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Signup

Publish Date
As part of the forest stand improvement plan and oak regeneration work he is completing on his land, David Ray is working to remove trees from the understory and allow more light to reach the forest floor. Ray purchased 310 acres of forestland in Jackson County, IN in 1995 to use for recreational purposes including hunting, hiking and foraging. Ray enrolled his land, pictured May 24, 2022, in NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program in 2017 for forest stand improvement and brush management. After th

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners from West Virginia for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

(Morgantown, WV, May 12, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners from West Virginia for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on conservation efforts while strengthening their operation can apply for technical and financial assistance through CSP. 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) delivers the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades, delivering over $34 billion through fiscal year 2031, including more than $7.7 billion for CSP. This increase in funding ensures conservation remains rooted in agriculture, with benefits to producers, communities and natural resources.

While NRCS accepts CSP applications year-round, West Virginia producers and landowners should apply by June 12, 2026 to be considered for funding in the current cycle.  

“Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals,” said Jon Bourdon, NRCS state conservationist in West Virginia. “We can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.”

NRCS offers CSP in all 50 states and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous signups. The program provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction.

Find eligible practices and practice payment amounts for West Virginia:  Payment Schedules by State. Payment rates for conservation practices are reviewed and set each fiscal year for the state. 

To apply for CSP, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.