Producers Advised to Apply for New Conservation Stewardship Program by September 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Bill White: (503) 414-3085, Bill.White@or.usda.gov

PORTLAND, AUGUST 24, 2009 — Oregon’s agricultural producers and operators of non-industrial private forests are urged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program before September 30 to be considered for this year’s funding. This is the first signup for the newly authorized program under the 2008 Farm Bill. Through the voluntary Conservation Stewardship Program, producers have the opportunity to receive conservation payments through the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“A limited number of acres will be accepted into the program each year for the next five years,” Oregon NRCS State Conservationist Ron Alvarado said.

NRCS is accepting Conservation Stewardship Program applications on a continuous basis. Applicants will be evaluated and ranked for funding competitively within the state, based on the conservation they agree to install and maintain on their land.

Program rules were recently approved, and the application window for the 2009 funding cycle closes at the end of the current Fiscal Year on September 30. Applications not received in time or not selected for the current signup can be held for consideration in future years. As more applications are accepted through the continuous signup, competition for enrollment is likely to increase in future years.

“Due to the shorter timeframe, we encourage producers to sign up as soon as they can,” said Alvarado.

In Oregon, individuals, legal entities, and American Indian tribes have the opportunity to enroll just over 200,000 acres of working cropland, grassland, pastureland, rangeland, or non-industrial private forestland in Fiscal Year 2009.

At this time, payment rates for the Conservation Stewardship Program have not been established, however national estimates for projected payment ranges are provided by land use.

Final payment rates will be determined this fall. At that time, pre-approved 2009 applicants will be notified of their payments, which cannot exceed $40,000 per year. Those who then decide to enter into a Conservation Stewardship Program contract will receive their first annual payment in October of 2010.

For participation in 2009, applicants must complete the following steps before September 30:

• Complete a Self-Screening Checklist to determine if the program is a good fit. The checklist is available on the NRCS Web site and at local NRCS offices.
• Work with the local USDA Service Center to verify program eligibility.
• Submit a program application form.
• Submit an operation map, aerial photograph or overlay that identifies the agricultural and/or forest operation and associated acreage amounts.

Once these steps are completed, NRCS will work with applicants to gather further information about the land, select additional conservation activities, conduct field visits, and develop a stewardship plan.

For additional information about the Conservation Stewardship Program, please go online to: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html or visit your local NRCS field office. For more information on how payment rates will be determined, visit the National NRCS Web site at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/special_pdfs/Payment_Range_Estimate_081309.pdf.
 

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