Producers’ Conservation Efforts Lead to Increased CSP Payments, NCGA Notes (7-6-06)

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight acknowledged conservation efforts of farmers including National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) members last week when he announced the results of Conservation Security Program (CSP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 contract modifications to include payments for additional conservation enhancements not included in the original contracts.

Payments to FY 2004 CSP contract holders totaled $19.8 million compared with $32.5 million in FY 2006, representing a 64 percent increase. The increase is because of modifications, such as advancing to a higher CSP tier, adding enhancements for improvements in environmental performance above the CSP minimums and, in some cases, adding eligible acreage.

“CSP allows growers the opportunity to voluntarily promote better stewardship practices on their land,” said Bill Chase, NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team chairman. “The increase in contracts and money awarded indicates that growers are taking the extra steps to ensure their land is taken care of.”

CSP is an innovative, voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards those producers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations. In 2004, 18 watersheds were part of the program; today, there are 280 watersheds.
 
Congress capped CSP funding at $41 million in FY 2004, $202 million in FY 2005, and $259 million in FY 2006. To date, more than 19,300 CSP contracts cover more than 14.6 million acres and receive annual payments of nearly $220 million for superior conservation efforts. 

“CSP was designed to reward the best land stewards and encourage them to do even more,” Knight said. “Our 2004 participants have demonstrated their interest in completing additional practices, proving that voluntary, incentive-based programs on working lands do encourage landowners to move toward the highest standards of conservation stewardship.”