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NRCS urges farmers to sign up for the Conservation Stewardship Program

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is urging farmers to enroll in the Conservation Stewardship Program.

“This is a program that really rewards producers for their past conservation efforts, existing conservation and gives them the opportunity to achieve additional conservation and earn a financial assistance payment for that as well,” said Curt McDaniel, assistant conservationist with Missouri NRCS.

In an interview with Brownfield Ag News Thursday, McDaniel said the program provides rewards without discounting conservation practices that have been done in the past.  He says it also allows producers to go beyond what they’re currently doing.

“So if you’ve done a great job of stewardship on your farm, you’re willing to go above and beyond that and receive a payment for that, then CSP is great opportunity,” said McDaniel.

Through the Conservation Stewardship Program, producers earn payments for conservation practices like cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips, and pollinator habitat.  McDaniel says farmers can do that while maintaining production on their land.

“It really is a great program for environmental benefits as a whole,” he said.  “It is the largest program with over 70 million acres nationwide and it is a great opportunity for producers to be able to get incentives for increasing and maintaining the levels of conservation they have on their farms.”

The program sign-up deadline is February 3.

AUDIO: Curt McDaniel (6 min. MP3)