Conservation Stewardship Program
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.
CSP application deadline for FY20 funding considerations: May 29, 2020.
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 2014, 2015 and 2016 are being accepted now through March 20, 2020. Renewal applications will be evaluated to determine if they qualify for renewal, and renewal contracts will be obligated by May 8, 2020.
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.
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
Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply.
Applicants must:
1. Provide a map(s) that identifies and delineates the boundaries of all eligible land uses and acres included in the operation.
2. Identify any ineligible land that is part of the operation as described above.
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
CSP Enhancements
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.
To access the CSP Enhancements Activity sheets specific to Washington State, use the “CSP Enhancements Activity Sheet for Washington State” link in the Washington Program Participant Documents listed below.
Washington Program Participant Documents
Links for More Program Information on the National CSP Page:
Program Contact
For questions regarding the Washington State Conservation Stewardship Program contact your local NRCS office.
