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| Conservation Security Program (CSP)Fiscal Year 2008 Sign-up Period: April 18 - May 16, 2008 (deadline extended to May 30, 2008) CSP is a voluntary program first authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill. The program is designed to reward those farmers and ranchers meeting the very highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their working agricultural lands. CSP also creates powerful incentives for continued conservation improvements and encourages other agricultural producers to meet higher standards of conservation on their operations as well. The achievement of a superior level of stewardship activities, such as those rewarded under CSP, will benefit generations to come. Watershed ApproachFrom 2004-2008, CSP will be offered in a rotating watershed eligibility system. Watersheds are nature’s boundaries and group producers with similar resource issues. The watershed approach is easily adapted to funding changes and keeps costs within mandated technical assistance funding. Watersheds Selected for 2008 CSPThe watersheds selected for participation in 2008 include land within the Animas Valley and Cloverdale watersheds in the boot heel of New Mexico, and the extreme eastern most part of Cochise county, AZ. Dominant land uses in the watersheds include rangeland, and irrigated cropland. Irrigated pasture is also present, though it covers relatively small acreage.
To receive technical assistance, a landowner or manager may contact the local NRCS or conservation district office. To apply for the program, NRCS will ask potential participants to complete the self-assessment (PDF; 2.1 MB) to determine if their operations meet the standards of the program and qualify for program participation. By going through the workbook, producers will get a good idea about whether they are eligible for CSP at this time. The program provides three tiers of participation that differ in contract length and total payments according to the amount of treatment and the portion of the agricultural operation being offered. Using the benchmark inventory and other application material, NRCS will determine if the applicant meets the tier’s minimum criteria. Tier I, the producer must have addressed soil quality and water quality for eligible land uses on part of the agricultural operation prior to application. Tier II, the producer must have addressed soil quality and water quality for eligible land uses on the entire agricultural operation prior to application and agree to address the locally significant resource concern of wildlife habitat by the end of the contract period. Tier III, the producer must have addressed all resource concerns to a resource management system level for all eligible land uses on the entire agricultural operation before application into the program.
Enhancements
Payment Schedule
Assessment ToolsThe following tools require
Microsoft
Excel, or
Adobe Acrobat.
Soil
and Water Evaluation Tool (XLS; 412 KB) For More InformationGeneral information on the program can also be found on the national CSP webpage or by contacting your local NRCS field office. New Mexico CSP Watersheds
Last Modified: 06/03/2008 |
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