By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. — Current participants in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) have until April 13 to renew their contracts for five additional years. The current contracts expire Dec. 31, 2018; the renewed contracts will take effect Jan. 1, 2019. Farmers are allowed to renew their contracts once. CSP participants are paid to actively manage, maintain and expand conservation practices while continuing agricultural production on their land. Eligible practices include cover crops, buffer strips and soil health-building activities. The program also encourages the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and new management techniques such as precision agriculture applications, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rate, according to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which administers the program. CSP pays a minimum of $1,500 annually per contract. Nationwide, more than 70 million acres are enrolled in the program. Farmers opting to renew their contracts will need to apply to NRCS. If an operation has changed its name or added partners over the life of the current contract, it may have to re-apply during a general signup period, said Eric Gerth, assistant state conservationist for financial assistance programs for the Illinois NRCS office. Farmers who are uncertain if any changes may impact their eligibility to renew should contact their local NRCS office. Producers looking to renew must agree to add at least one new conservation activity. Over the last 3-4 years, the renewal rate for Illinois farmers has averaged about 70 percent, Gerth said. “Seventy percent is pretty successful,” he noted. “It shows a lot of interest and that the program has worked for a lot of people.” Funding for the renewed contracts will be a part of the fiscal year 2019 budget, he said. “We’re confident for funding for the renewal contracts. What the future holds (beyond that), your guess is as good as mine.” For more information on CSP, go online to www.nrcs.usda.gov/csp |
