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Conservation Security Program (CSP)

Purpose:

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program is available in all 50 States, the Caribbean Area and the Pacific Basin area. The program provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location

Administering Agency:

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

Eligibility:

The producer and the producer’s operation first must meet the basic eligibility criteria:

- The land must be privately owned or

- Tribal land and the majority of the land must be located within one of the selected watersheds.

- The applicant must be in compliance with highly erodible and wetland provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, have an active interest in the agricultural operation, and have 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.

Assistance Offered:

Total payments are determined by the tier of participation, conservation treatments completed, and the acres enrolled:

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

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

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

Additional Information:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/