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Conservation Stewardship Program

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Your Stewardship Goals. Our Assistance.

Have you ever looked across your property and thought about some land management goals you would like to take to the next level? Maybe we can help.

No one knows more about your land than you do, and no one knows more about conservation than we do. Together we can develop a plan tailored to your land and your goals to help you increase productivity and protect the value of your land.

Our Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation.  Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop yields, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. We can help you schedule timely planting of cover crops, develop a grazing plan that will improve your forage base, implement no-till to reduce erosion or manage forested areas in a way that benefits wildlife habitat.  If you are already taking steps to improve the condition of the land, chances are CSP can help you find new ways to meet your goals.

Sustainable Production

CSP is for working lands. It is the largest conservation program in the United States with 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled in CSP. Thousands of people that have made the choice to voluntarily enroll in the program because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation.

CSP participants are seeing real results.  Some of these benefits include:

  • Improved cattle gains per acre
  • Increased crop yields
  • Decreased inputs
  • Wildlife population improvements
  • Better resilience to weather extremes

Through CSP, we can help you build your business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of your entire operation. Good land stewardship not only conserves the natural resources on your farm, ranch or forest, it also provides multiple benefits to local communities, including better water and air quality and wildlife habitat, as well as food and fiber.

Your CSP

Washington State Contact

Misty Seaboldt
Programs Specialist
11707 E. Sprague Avenue, Suite 302
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
misty.seaboldt@usda.gov

Apply for CSP

If you are ready to take your conservation efforts to the next level we are here to help. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Specific deadlines are set for ranking and funding opportunities.

The CSP application deadline for FY21 funding considerations is March 31, 2021.

Contact your local NRCS field office for more information.

Applications for CSP contract Renewals

Applications for Renewal of CSP contracts that were obligated in Fiscal Year 2017 are being accepted.  Application deadline is March 31, 2021.

Application Documents

Applicants must:

  • Control or own eligible land.
  • Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI) provisions.
  • Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements.
  • Develop an NRCS CSP plan of operations.
  • Provide a map(s) that identifies and delineates the boundaries of all eligible land uses and acres included in the operation.
  • Identify any ineligible land that is part of the operation as described above.

Establish Eligibility with USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA)

Each applicant must establish themselves as a USDA customer and attain all Farm Service Agency (FSA) eligibility requirements. 

Important information regarding FSA eligibility

One eligibility requirement that is not instantaneous is the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) determination. On average, AGI determinations takes 3 weeks to be processed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Submitting your AGI form to FSA on the last day could result in your AGI eligibility not being met by the cutoff date for FY21.

FSA offices can be found by visiting the USDA Service Center Locator to find the NRCS and FSA representatives for your county.

Visit USDA Service Center Locator to find the NRCS and FSA representatives for your county.

Eligibility

Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for CSP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands.

Washington Program Participant Documents

Further Resources

SW WA NIPF Conservation Partnership
RCPP 1650		 Screening Worksheet
Ranking and Practices
Priority Resource Concerns

CSP Enhancements for Washington | FY 2021

A CSP enhancement is a conservation activity used to treat natural resources and improve conservation performance. Enhancements are designed to maintain or exceed the quality criteria, or stewardship level, for the resource concern. Enhancements tied directly to conservation practices standards exceed the minimum treatment requirements of the standard to address additional criteria or considerations. Conservation practice standards and quality criteria for resource concerns can be found in sections II and III of the Field Office Technical Guide.

Code # Enhancement Name
E314A Brush management for improved structure and composition
E315A Herbaceous weed treatment to create desired plant communities consistent with the ecological site
E327A Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects
E327B Establish Monarch butterfly habitat
E328A Resource conserving crop rotation
E328B Improved resource conserving crop rotation
E328C Conservation crop rotation on recently converted CRP grass/legume cover
E328D Leave standing grain crops unharvested to benefit wildlife
E328E Soil health crop rotation
E328F Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter
E328G Conservation crop rotation on recently converted CRP grass/legume cover for soil organic matter improvement
E328H Conservation crop rotation to reduce the concentration of salts
E328I Conservation crop rotation to reduce water quality degradation by utilization and removal of excess soil nutrients with forage harvest
E328J Improved crop rotation to provide benefits to pollinators
E328K Multiple crop types to benefit wildlife
E328L Leaving tall crop residue for wildlife
E328M Diversified crop rotation to benefit pollinators and beneficial insects
E329A No till to reduce soil erosion
E329B No till to reduce tillage induced particulate matter
E329C No till to increase plant-available moisture
E329D No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter conten
E329E No till to reduce energy
E334A Controlled traffic farming to reduce compaction
E340A Cover crop to reduce soil erosion
E340B Intensive cover cropping to increase soil health and soil organic matter content
E340C Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter
E340D Intensive cover cropping (orchard/vineyard floor) to increase soil health and soil organic matter content
E340E Use of soil health assessment to assist with development of cover crop mix to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter
E340F Cover crop to minimize soil compaction
E340G Cover crop to reduce water quality degradation by utilizing excess soil nutrients
E340H Cover crop to suppress excessive weed pressures and break pest cycles
E340I Using cover crops for biological strip till
E345A Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion
E345B Reduced tillage to reduce tillage induced particulate matter
E345C Reduced tillage to increase plant-available moisture
E345D Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content
E345E Reduced tillage to reduce energy use
E374A Install variable frequency drive(s) on pump(s)
E374B Switch fuel source for pump motor(s)
E376A Modify field operations to reduce particulate matter
E381A Silvopasture for wildlife habitat
E382A Incorporating "wildlife friendly" fencing for connectivity of wildlife food resources
E382B Installing electrical fence offsets and wire to facilitate cross-fencing for improved grazing management
E383A Grazing-maintained fuel break to reduce the risk of fire
E384A Biochar production from woody residue
E386A Enhanced field borders to reduce soil erosion along the edge(s) of a field
E386B Enhanced field borders to increase carbon storage along the edge(s) of the field
E386C Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field
E386D Enhanced field borders to increase food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field
E386E Enhanced field borders to increase wildlife food and habitat along the edge(s) of a field
E390A Increase riparian herbaceous cover width for sediment and nutrient reduction
E390B Increase riparian herbaceous cover width to enhance wildlife habitat
E391A Increase riparian forest buffer width for sediment and nutrient reduction
E391B Increase stream shading for stream temperature reduction
E391C Increase riparian forest buffer width to enhance wildlife habitat
E393A Extend existing filter strip to reduce water quality impacts
E395A Stream habitat improvement through placement of woody biomass
E399A Fishpond management for native aquatic and terrestrial species
E412A Enhance a grassed waterway
E420A Establish pollinator habitat
E420B Establish monarch butterfly habitat
E447A Advanced Tailwater Recovery
E449A Complete pumping plant evaluation for water savings
E449B Alternated Wetting and Drying (AWD) of rice fields
E449C Advanced Automated IWM – Year 2-5, soil moisture monitoring
E449D Advanced Automated IWM - Year 1. Equipment and soil moisture or water level monitoring
E449E Convert from Cascade to Furrow Irrigated Rice Production – reduce irrigation water consumption
E449F Intermediate IWM— Year 1, Equipment with Soil or Water Level monitoring
E449G Intermediate IWM— Years 2-5, Soil or Water Level monitoring
E449H Intermediate IWM— Years 2 -5, Soil moisture or water level monitoring
E449I IWM - Year 1, Retrofit Equipment with Speed Control on Sprinkler Irrigation System
E472A Manage livestock access to streams, ditches, and other waterbodies to reduce nutrients or pathogens to surface water.
E484A Mulching to improve soil health
E484B Reduce particulate matter emissions by using woody material mulch
E484C Mulching with natural materials in specialty crops for weed control
E511A Harvest of crops (hay or small grains) using conservation measures that allow desired species to flush or escape
E511B Forage harvest management that helps maintain wildlife habitat cover, shelter or continuity
E511C Forage testing for improved harvesting methods and hay quality
E512A Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture to reduce soil erosion
E512B Forage and biomass planting to reduce soil erosion or increase organic matter to build soil health
E512C Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture for soil organic matter improvement
E512D Forage plantings that help increase organic matter in depleted soils
E512E Forage and biomass planting that produces feedstock for biofuels or energy production
E512F Native grass or legumes in forage base to improve plant community structure and composition or productivity and health or wildlife food
E512G Native grasses or legumes in forage base
E512H Forage plantings that enhance bird habitat cover and shelter or structure and composition
E512I Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect and/or monarch habitat
E512J Establish wildlife corridors to provide habitat continuity or access to water
E528A Maintaining quantity and quality of forage for animal health and productivity
E528B Grazing management that improves monarch butterfly habitat
E528C Incorporating wildlife refuge areas in contingency plans for wildlife
E528D Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of food for wildlife
E528E Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of plant structure and composition for wildlife
E528F Stockpiling cool season forage to improve structure and composition or plant productivity and health
E528G Improved grazing management for plant productivity and health through monitoring activities                        
E528H Prescribed grazing that improves or maintains riparian and watershed function-elevated water temperature
E528I Grazing management that protects sensitive areas -surface or ground water from nutrients
E528J Prescribed grazing on pastureland that improves riparian and watershed function impairment from nutrients or pathogens and chemicals or mininizes sediment
E528K Improved grazing management for soil compaction on pasture through monitoring activities
E528L Prescribed grazing that improves or maintains riparian and watershed function-erosion
E528M Grazing management that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion
E528N Improved grazing management through monitoring activities
E528O Clipping mature forages to set back vegetative growth for improved forage quality
E528P Implementing Bale or Swath Grazing to increase organic matter and reduce nutrients in surface water
E528Q Use of body condition scoring for livestock on a monthly basis to keep track of herd health
E528R Management Intensive Rotational Grazing
E533A Advanced Pumping Plant Automation
E533B Complete pumping plant evaluation for energy savings
E550A Range planting for increasing/maintaining organic matter
E550B Range planting for improving forage, browse, or cover for wildlife
E570A Enhanced rain garden for wildlife
E578A Stream crossing elimination
E580A Stream corridor bank stability improvement
E580B Stream corridor bank vegetation improvement
E590A Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses
E590B Reduce risks of nutrient losses to surface water by utilizing precision agriculture technologies to plan and apply nutrients
E590C Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses on pasture
E595A Reduce risk of pesticides in surface water by utilizing precision pesticide application techniques
E595B Reduce risk of pesticides in water and air by utilizing IPM PAMS techniques
E595D Increase the size requirement of refuges planted to slow pest resistance to Bt crops
E595E Eliminate use of chemical treatments to control pests and to increase the presence of dung beetles
E612A Cropland conversion to trees or shrubs
E612B Planting for high carbon sequestration rate
E612C Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities
E612D Adding food-producing trees and shrubs to existing plantings
E612E Cultural plantings
E612F Sugarbush management
E612G Tree/shrub planting for wildlife food
E643A Restoration of sensitive coastal vegetative communities
E643B Restoration and management of rare or declining habitat
E644A Managing Flood-Irrigated Landscapes for Wildlife
E645A Reduction of attractants to human-subsidized predators in sensitive wildlife species habitat
E645B Manage existing shrub thickets to provide adequate shelter for wildlife
E645C Edge feathering for wildlife cover
E646A Close structures to capture and retain rainfall to provide winter habitat for waterfowl and other wading birds
E646B Extend retention of captured winter rainfall to provide late winter habitat for migratory waterfowl and wading birds
E646C Manipulate vegetation and maintain closed structures to retain rainfall to provide mid summer habitat for shorebirds
E646D Manipulate vegetation and maintain closed structures to retain rainfall to provide late summer habitat for shorebirds
E647A Manipulate vegetation on fields where rainfall is captured and retained to enhance winter habitat for waterfowl and wading birds
E647C Establish and maintain most soil vegetation on cropland edges to enhance waterfowl and shorebird habitat
E647D Establish and maintain wildlife habitat by providing early successional, naturally occurring vegetation in ditches and ditch bank borders
E666A Maintaining and improving forest soil quality
E666D Forest management to enhance understory vegetation
E666E Reduce height of the forest understory to limit wildfire risk
E666F Reduce forest stand density to improve a degraded plant community
E666G Reduce forest density and manage understory along roads to limit wildfire risk
E666H Increase on-site carbon storage
E666I Crop tree management for mast production
E666J Facilitating oak forest regeneration
E666K Creating structural diversity with patch openings
E666L Forest Stand Improvement to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands
E666L Forest Stand Improvement to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands
E666N Creating structural diversity in dry Western forests
E666O Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris for wildlife habitat
E666P Summer roosting habitat for native forest-dwelling bat species
E666Q Increase diversity in pine plantation monocultures
E666R Forest songbird habitat maintenance