LSP Farmer-Members Applaud 1st Nationwide Sign-Up for New Conservation Stewardship Program

Sign-up Period Runs from Aug. 10-Sept. 30

CONTACT: Adam Warthesen, LSP, 612-722-6377

8/6/09
Farmer-members of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today applauded the USDA’s announcement of the first-ever national sign-up for the newly revamped Conservation Stewardship Program. Farmers and ranches are eligible to apply to the program from Aug. 10 to Sept. 30.

“Farmers like me are looking forward to making CSP a part of our farming operations and getting support for maintaining and increasing good conservation on our land while continuing to produce crops and livestock,” said St. Peter, Minn., crop and livestock farmer Tom Nuessmeier, a member of LSP’s Federal Farm Policy Committee.

Originally called the Conservation Security Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary working lands conservation program, and represents a new approach to how our nation supports agriculture producers by placing emphasis on positive conservation outcomes produced by both new and existing stewardship practices that farmers use.

The new CSP is available to all agricultural producers, regardless of where they live or what they are producing. With a substantial increase in program funding—$12 billion over the next 10 years—and with the goal to enroll nearly 13 million acres per year, the new CSP has the opportunity to have a much greater impact on the land and in our communities. This is particularly true in light of the fact that since 2004 CSP has enrolled only 20 million acres in total.

“The new CSP not only has a greater potential for supporting and rewarding stewardship-minded farmers, but it also provides a better use of taxpayer dollars to achieve conservation,” Nuessmeier said. “There are a lot of farmers out there utilizing creative methods for improving water quality, protecting the soil and creating more wildlife habitat.”

LSP is working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other farm and conservation groups to host two statewide CSP informational meetings later this month across Minnesota. For details, contact LSP’s Adam Warthesen at 612-722-6377 or adam@landstewardshipproject.org.

For more information on CSP sign-up, contact your local NRCS office.

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