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Three Arkansas Watersheds Selected for USDA 2006 Conservation Security Program

PALMER, Alaska - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced Aug. 25 that three Arkansas watersheds will be eligible for the 2006 Conservation Security Program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Nationwide, 110 watersheds, with at least one in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico, were chosen.

The Arkansas watersheds are:

  • Lower Arkansas Watershed – includes parts of Arkansas, Desha, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke and Pulaski counties.

  • Poteau Watershed – includes parts of Polk, Scott and Sebastian counties.

  • Upper White-Valley Watershed – includes parts of Craighead, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, White and Woodruff counties.

"This voluntary program recognizes farmers and ranchers for their ongoing stewardship activities on working agricultural lands," said Conner. "Natural resource conservation efforts by America's producers benefit everyone through healthier soil, cleaner air and water and improved fish and wildlife habitat. CSP successfully demonstrates a cooperative public-private conservation partnership."

Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Conservationist Kalven Trice sees CSP as a way to recognize what some farmers have been doing for years.  “Think of CSP as an award for a lifetime of land stewardship achievement.”    

The sign-up period will take place early in fiscal year 2006. These watersheds represent more than 120,000 of the nation's potentially eligible farms and ranches, covering more than 46 million acres that are evenly split between cropland and grazing land. “NRCS is proud of Arkansas landowners’ commitment towards conservation and we look forward to working with more landowners during this next sign-up,” says Trice.      

The 2006 CSP will include a renewable energy component. Eligible producers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol, for recycling 100 percent of on-farm lubricants, and for implementing energy production, including wind, solar, geothermal and methane production.

A sign-up announcement will be published that will detail specific program requirements in the watersheds. Self-assessment workbooks (printed and on CD) are available from NRCS offices in the participating watersheds to help landowners determine eligibility.  They also are available online at http://csp.sc.egov.usda.gov.  The program will be offered each year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.

Additional information on CSP, including a map of the fiscal year 2006 watersheds and eligibility requirements, is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.

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