Colorado 2006 Conservation Security Program

Benefits

Through CSP, the conservation benefits gained will help
farms and ranches be more economically and environ-
mentally sustainable and will increase the natural
resource benefits for all Americans.

Basic Eligibility

The producer and the producer's operation must meet these basic eligibility criteria:

• The land must be privately owned or tribal land
  with the majority of the land located within a selected priority watershed.

• The applicant must be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, have an active interest in the agricultural operation, and show control of the land for the life of the contract.

• The applicant must share in the risk of producing any crop or livestock and be entitled to a share in the crop or livestock marketed from the operation.

Colorado CSP Initial Eligibility Questionnaire

Are you eligible for CSP? To find out, potential applicants should first complete this eligibility questionnaire.

Tier Eligibility and Contract Requirements

All applicants must meet the following minimum tier eligibility and contract requirements, plus any additional requirements in the sign-up announcement.

• For Tier I, the producer must have addressed water quality and soil quality to meet the minimum treatment requirements on part of the agricultural operation for the previous two crop years.

• For Tier II, the producer must have addressed water quality and soil quality to meet the minimum treatment requirements on the entire agricultural operation for the previous two crop years and agree to address one additional resource concern by the end of the contract period.

• For Tier III, the producer must have addressed all resource concerns on the entire operation for the previous two crop years and agree to additional enhancement activities outlined in the sign-up announcement.

Soil quality practices might include crop rotation, cover crops, conservation tillage, prescribed grazing, and adequate wind barriers. Water quality practices might include filter strips, grassed waterways, managed access to streams, nutrient and pest management, prescribed grazing, and irrigation water management.

2006 Stewardship Contract Payments

CSP stewardship contract payments include one or more of the following:

• An annual stewardship component for the existing base level conservation treatment.

• An annual existing practice component for maintaining existing conservation practices.

• A one-time new practice component for additional needed practices.

• An enhancement component for exceptional conservation effort and additional conservation practices or activities that provide increased resource benefits beyond the prescribed level.

Total stewardship contract payments are determined by the tier of participation:

• For Tier I, contracts are for 5 years; maximum payment is $20,000 annually.

• For Tier II, contracts are for 5-10 years; maximum payment is $35,000 annually.

• For Tier III, contracts are for 5-10 years, maximum payment is $45,000 annually.

Additional information about this new conservation program can be found on the National NRCS website.

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