NEWS

PENNSYLVANIA RECEIVES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM                                                                                                                                          

 Contact: Barry Frantz 717-237-2216 

Harrisburg, PA, August 10, 2007− Craig Derickson, State Conservationist of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, today announced that Pennsylvania has received an additional funding of $203,0624 for Conservation Security Program (CSP) implementation.  Funds will allow for the completion of payments on Fiscal year 2007 CSP contracts. 

“Through our actions today, the Conservation Security Program will fully realize the promise to recognize and award those producers that demonstrate conservation excellence,” Derickson said. “These steps represent a way to bring the past program to completion, and set the stage for the future of CSP, beyond passage of the Farm Bill.”

A total of $1.8 million has been made available to Pennsylvania to complete payments to producers for their fiscal year 2007 payment.  In addition, funds are also being made available to help prepare for a future program signup in the three Pennsylvania watersheds previously identified for FY 2007.  These watersheds are the Lower Juniata, Lower Delaware and Gunpowder-Patapsco.  The Lower Juniata and Gunpowder-Patapsco watersheds drain into the Chesapeake Bay and cover significant portions of Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Perry, and Fulton counties and small areas of Dauphin, Franklin, Snyder and York counties.  The Lower Delaware watershed drains into the Delaware Bay and covers parts of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The funding announced today was made possible through a supplemental appropriations bill provided by Congress on May 25, 2007.

USDA offers CSP in new watersheds annually on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows. For more information about CSP, including a map of targeted watersheds and eligibility requirements, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship on private agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of the nation’s natural resources. Under this program, USDA rewards producers who practice good stewardship on agricultural lands and offers incentives to increase the use of conservation practices. The USDA Farm Bill proposal calls for substantial reform and improvement of the Conservation Security Program with a goal of conducting nationwide signups in the future. 

#

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.