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The new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) passed in the last Farm Bill will be available beginning August 10, 2009. This Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) program rewards farmers and ranchers for current conservation practices and for putting in place additional new conservation practices and enhancements over a 5 year contract period. Successful applicants could receive up to $200,000 in benefits over the five year contract period. The program allows all farmers and ranchers to apply at any time, but initial application for 2009 federal fiscal year funding will need to be completed by September of this year. So to access 2009 funding it is CRITICAL that farmers and ranchers make initial application by September 30, 2009.
For personal help: Dial NCAT through its 1-800-346-9140 (English) and 1-800-411-3222 (Spanish) toll free hot-line or locate and call your local NRCS staff by getting their number in your local phone directory (under federal agency (blue section) or the following link: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html
Also organic farmers and ranchers should in general qualify and rank high for this new program. The Organic Farming Research Foundation has put together an excellent Question and Answer document to help the organic producer at:
http://ofrf.org/policy/federal_legislation/farm_bill_implementation/csp_faq.html
Below is basic step by step outline for application with important information and forms that can help in getting ready to apply for this program:
Table of Contents
Step 1
Examine and/or fill-out the Self-Screening Checklist to assess eligibility and requirements of program.
 Download the Self Screening Checklist
If you have any questions about the questions or your answers contact your local NRCS staff person.
This screening tool introduces an important term called the "stewardship threshold". The stewardship threshold is defined as the level of natural resource conservation and environmental management required to conserve and improve the quality of and condition of a natural resource. This threshold will be measured by a new tool devised for the program called the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT) which is discussed below. Meeting these stewardship thresholds are important because an applicant must demonstrate that at the time of application they are meeting the stewardship threshold for at least one resource of concern and that they commit to meeting the stewardship threshold for one additional resource of concern during the five year contract term.
Step 2
Make initial application (for funding in FY 2009 fill-out and return to NRCS by the end of September 2009)
The basic application form is: NRCS-CPA-1200
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/PDFs/Blank_EQIP_CCC1200.pdf
If you have NOT accessed federal agriculture funding in the past or are a brand new farmer or rancher, you will need to establish yourself as a legal farm by registering with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and acquiring a Federal Farm ID number. NRCS and FSA field offices are usually located in one location known as Farm Service Centers.
Some additional forms that will likely be needed to establish basic eligibility are:
- A DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number if you intend to apply for more then $25,000 in benefits, it takes a day. This will likely be the case with most CSP contracts. Online application at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do
- AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification (available at local NRCS offices)
- CCC926 Adjusted Gross Income Certification (available at local NRCS office)
- Special Directive to NRCS to assist farmers and ranchers without previous FSA registration
Step 3
Ranking and the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT)
For this initial sign-up and after establishing eligibility and application, the next step will be to work with local NRCS staff to establish a ranking score. NRCS staff will use a new software tool called the Conservation Management Tool (CMT) to establish your ranking score. This tool has been designed to be used to evaluate applicants' existing conservation levels and proposed additional improvements. Broadly the CSP targets funding to:
- Address particular resources of concern in a given watershed or region
- Assist farmers and ranchers to improve soil, water, and air quality
- Provide increased biodiversity and wildlife and pollinator habitat
- Sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change
- Conserve water and energy
However, each state NRCS office has chosen specific priority resources of concern and these will impact the ranking system in each state. To find out the priorities for each state contact your NRCS office or look for that information on your states' NRCS website. Link: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html
It is important to note that this tool is very new and not significantly tested. There is expectations that it will be available on-line, but it is important that you ask many questions of you local NRCS office staff so that you understand the questions asked and the information being entered into the tool.
The NRCS has provided a list of conservation and enhancement activities that are part of the CMT. This can be examined at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html
Once ranked, applicants will be chosen by moving down the list of ranked applicants until the program acreage limits for each state are reached. The total national program acreage available is 12.8 million acres for each of the five years of the program.
Special Ranking Pools
Some applicants will be pooled for ranking into several special pools. First, the new CSP does offers a pool of funds for applicants in control of nonindustrial private forest lands. This will represent only 10% of the total 12.8 million acres allowed into the program. Also, if state NRCS offices have elected to divide the state into sub-regions with separate priority resources of concern, applicants will only be ranked with that sub-region. Also separate pools for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and beginning farmers or ranchers are established in each state. For each of these two pools, 5% of the available program acreage is available and ranking will occur within these pools and separate from the general ranking procedure in the state. Thus, the competition will be less for program funding in these special pools.
Step 4
Work out contract payments and details
Payment amounts will be determined by these three factors:
- Expected environmental benefits as indicated by the Conservation Measurement Tool.
- Costs incurred by the farmer or rancher associated with the planning, design, materials, installation, labor, management, maintenance or training for conservation activities.
- Income forgone by the producer as a result of conservation activities that are undertaken.
Overall CSP payments are expected to average $18 per acre nationwide, but the rate will vary by land type, the extent of existing conservation that will be managed and maintained, and the extent of new conservation practices and activities agreed to. Individual CSP payments will depend on the details of each contract. Payments to contract holders will be made after October 1 of the year the conservation has been accomplished (i.e., if the terms of the contract are fulfilled during the spring and summer, the accompanying payments will be made in the fall).
Contract, Field Verification and Conservation Stewardship Plans
As part of each successful applicant contract development the NRCS is required to visit each applying farm and ranch and verify information provided as part of the application. In addition the development of a conservation stewardship plan is required. A conservation stewardship plan is defined as a record of the participant’s decisions that describes the schedule of conservation activities to be implemented, managed or improved during the contract life.
Specialty Crops, Organic Production and Technical Assistance
The implementation rules for the new CSP commit the NRCS to make a special commitment to providing technical assistance to organic and specality crop producers. In particular NRCS has provided the following document to help organic farmers and ranchers applying to the program.
Resource Conserving Crop Rotations
In the new CSP, special emphasis and supplemental funding is being made for applicants who undertake a resource conserving crop rotation. The understanding of what constitutes such a rotation is still less than clear and will require careful discussion with NRCS field staff.
Size and Program Limitations
To constrain total spending on the program, the new CSP limits the total acreage available (12.8 billion) in each of the five years of the program. In addition, as noted the law sets a target of an AVERAGE of $18 per acre nationwide as the target for expenditures. These limitations may make it difficult for very small farms to be able to justify the effort of participation with the ultimate benefit. This issue is a concern for NRCS and they have stated in the implementation rules for the program that they do not want to limit producer participation because of size or type of operation. If you are a smaller farm, please discuss this issue with your local NRCS staff.
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