WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service recently announced the opening of the Conservation Stewardship Program for new enrollments in 2015. Farmers, ranchers and foresters interested in participating in the program can submit applications to NRCS through Feb. 27 to be considered in the 2015 round of ranking applications and awarding contracts.

“The CSP is a continuous sign-up program that has periodic cut-off dates for ranking applications. Feb. 27 is the deadline for the coming year,” said Traci Bruckner, senior policy associate for agriculture and conservation at the Center for Rural Affairs. “Applications can be filed at your local NRCS office. We know this is a very short timeline but producers just have to file a simple application by the Feb. 27 deadline.”

As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory of their land, which will help determine the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments. Contracts are awarded to those offering the highest level of environmental benefits, with NRCS working down through the list of eligible applicants until acreage allocated to the particular state runs out.

In addition, producers who received a CSP contract in 2011 have the opportunity to renew their contract for another five-year period. Renewal applications must be received by March 31 to ensure a seamless transition into their next contract without a lapse in payments. Renewal contracts do not compete with new applicants.

According to Bruckner, the Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary stewardship incentives program, administered by NRCS, designed to reward farmers, ranchers and foresters for maintaining existing conservation, as well as for the adoption of additional conservation measures that provide multiple environmental benefits that run beyond the farm or ranch. This program pays producers for clean water, better soil management, improved habitat, energy efficiency and other natural resource benefits. Since the program began in 2009, nearly 70 million acres of farm and ranch land have been enrolled in the program.

To learn more about the application process, call the Farm Bill Helpline at 402-687-2100 or by emailing [email protected].