June 11 deadline for 2010 Conservation Stewardship Program

May 14, 2010 - - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites landowners to apply now for USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The deadline to be considered for the next ranking and funding period is June 11, 2010. “CSP is an opportunity tailor-made for our conservation-minded ranchers and farmers to continue to achieve even higher levels of conservation stewardship,” says Ed Burton, NRCS State Conservationist in California. Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland. Individuals, entities, and Indian Tribes operating agricultural or private non-industrial forestland may be eligible for the program. Potential applicants are encouraged to use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine if the new program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices or on the NRCS Web site at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/index.html.