2008 CSP Signup Now Underway

April 18, 2008

ANNOUNCER:

FARMERS IN THE MIDDLE IOWA WATERSHED CAN NOW SIGN UP FOR THE CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM. TOM O’CONNOR IS STATE CSP COORDINATOR WITH USDA’S NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE:

Tom O’Connor (MP3, 1:04):

(Transcript) "The sign up for the Conservation Security Program, CSP, is underway now for farmers in the Middle Iowa Watershed. The Middle Iowa is one of 51 watersheds nationwide included in the 2008 CSP. The watershed is located in parts of Grundy, Story, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Linn, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa and Johnson Counties in East Central Iowa. The sign up period ends May 16.

Farmers interested in learning more about their eligibility should contact their local NRCS office or attend a CSP informational meeting in Marengo or Solon. The Marengo meeting will be held April 21 starting at 7:00 pm in the Marengo Fair Grounds Hall. The Solon meeting will be held April 23 at 10:00 a.m., at the Solon Public Library.

The purpose of CSP is reward the best conservation farmers for their past conservation efforts and encourage them to do more. This unique program, for those who meet the requirements, offers five to ten year contracts. Annual payments for previous CSP signups in Iowa have averaged nine thousand dollars."

ANNOUNCER:

CURRENTLY THERE ARE NINE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND ACRES AND TWENTY-THREE-HUNDRED CSP CONTRACTS IN IOWA.

-USDA-

Tom O’Connor is available for telephone interviews Monday, April 21, starting at 7:30 a.m. and Tuesday, April 22, from 7:30 until noon at 515-323-2224.