|
NRCS in Montana is accepting CSP applications through October 28, 2022, for the current funding cycle.
Program application dates for all states.
|
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation. 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.
Learn more about CSP on the NRCS National Web site
Is CSP Right for Me? fact sheet (PDF; 933 KB)
Getting Started with NRCS: the Basics (PDF; 417 KB)
CSP Contracts and Payments
Payment rates are reviewed and set each fiscal year. See Montana Payment Schedules or learn more about contracts and payments on the national CSP Payments webpage.
Application
If you're ready to take your conservation efforts to the next level, contact your local Service Center for help. CSP Applications are accepted on a continual basis. However, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period. NRCS in Montana is accepting CSP applications through October 28, 2022, for the current funding cycle.
Additionally, existing CSP participants may have an opportunity to renew their contracts in the first half of the fifth year of their five-year contract through a competitive application process.
The Conservation Planning Workbook is a new tool available to producers to help streamline the planning and programmatic application processes. This year, the workbook will be a required part of the CSP application package. To learn more, contact your local USDA service center.
Conservation Planning Workbook (August 2022; PDF; 1.1 MB)
For more information on the application process, visit the Apply for CSP webpage.
Montana Priorities
- Degraded Plant Condition
- Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss
- Fire Management
- Livestock Production Limitations
- Pest Pressure
- Soil Quality Limitations
- Terrestrial Habitat (Fish and Wildlife – Inadequate Habitat)
- Wind and Water Erosion
Screening and Ranking Criteria
NRCS uses the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool (CART) for all program ranking. Learn more about CART.
CSP Enhancements
Not all national enhancements are available in Montana. Activity lists for what is offered in Montana will be provided here when available. Montana supplements provide state-specific clarifying information, and are only issued if required. Producers are encouraged to install and adopt bundles of specific enhancements whose installation as a group improve conservation performance and address resource concerns in a more comprehensive and cost-effective manner.
Resource Conserving Crop Rotations (RCCRs) for Montana
An RCCR for Montana means a crop that is one of the following:
- A perennial grass;
- A legume grown for use as a cover crop, forage, seed for planting, or green manure;
- A legume-grass or diverse grass-forb mixture comprised of species selected for climate, rainfall, soil, and other region-specific conditions; or
- A small grain or other resource-demanding crop grown in combination with a grass, legume, other forbs, or grass-forb mixture, whether inter-seeded, relay-planted into the resource-demanding crop, or planted in rotation.
Advanced Grazing Management (AGM)
AGM is the use of a combination of grazing conservation activities which may include management-intensive rotational grazing, that provide for improved soil health and carbon sequestration, drought resilience, wildlife habitat (including pollinator habitat), wildfire mitigation, control of invasive plants, and water quality improvement.
Montana Success Stories
Prior-Year CSP Montana Archives
Contact
Ernie Haglund
CSP Specialist
Phone: 406-587-6945
Email: Ernest.Haglund
