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NRCS Colorado 2012 News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Katherine Burse-Johnson                  
Public Affairs Specialist                                  
Office Number: 720-544-2863                        
Fax Number: 720-544-2965                           
   E-Mail: Katherine.Burse-Johnson@co.usda.gov

 

Colorado NRCS Sign-Up Period for Conservation Stewardship Program
Extended to January 27, 2012

                                                                                                                    January 17, 2012

DENVER -- USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced that the cut-off date for the current Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to Friday, January 27, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

“CSP encourages producers to improve their conservation performance as well as maintain their existing conservation activities on agricultural lands,” NRCS Colorado State Conservationist Phyllis Ann Philipps said.

CSP provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habit enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices and on the national CSP Web page.

As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking, and payments.

In 2010 alone, nearly 460 applicants enrolled in CSP, maintaining stewardship practices and ultimately putting additional conservation on 1.2 million acres to improve water and soil quality, enhance wildlife habitat and address the effects of climate change.

Visit the Colorado NRCS Website, and connect with an NRCS office near you.


 

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