NRCS California Reminds Farmers and Ranchers About January 13 Deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program

DAVIS, Calif., Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office reminds California's farmers and ranchers that Jan. 13, 2012, is the ranking period cut-off date for applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  

Farmers and ranchers interested in CSP need to submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure their applications will be considered for the 2012 ranking period.  The program provides numerous conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habitat enhancement and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change.

The program, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, 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 private forestland.  

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments.  It is available from local NRCS offices or online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp.

Since 1935, NRCS has provided conservation-related products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the Nation's soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands. With our help, people are better able to conserve, maintain, or improve their natural resources. As a result of our technical and financial assistance, land managers and communities take a comprehensive approach to the use and protection of natural resources.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.

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SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

RELATED LINKS
http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov