2006 Conservation Security Program (CSP) in Nevada 

Public Meetings for South Fork Humboldt Watershed Producers

Public meetings to help producers with the CSP sign-up will be held on March 14 and 15.  On March 14, the meeting will be held at the Tribal Headquarters in Lee, Nevada, from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.

On March 15, the meeting will be held at the USDA Service Center in Elko from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Jim Evans, District Conservationist, at 775-738-8431 x 125.

USDA ANNOUNCES SIGN-UP FOR 2006 CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM IN NEVADA

Sign-up will be Feb 13, 2006 - March 31, 2006 

Reno, Nev., Feb. 1, 2006 — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Richard Vigil today announced the 2006 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up will be held Feb. 13, 2006 to March 31, 2006, in the South Fork Humboldt Watershed.

"NRCS is committed to providing a fair and equitable program that rewards Nevada’s leading conservationists," said Vigil. "This year, applicants can sign up prior to most planting decisions.  We see this as a way to encourage more conservation leaders to apply for the program."

To be eligible for CSP, most of a producer's agricultural operation must fall within the boundaries of the selected watershed. Applications that meet CSP's minimum requirements as set forth in the amendment to the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register March 25, 2005, will be placed in enrollment categories. Categories will be funded in alphabetical order until funds are exhausted. The CSP amendment to the Interim Final Rule is available for viewing at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/.

Producers begin the application process by filling out a self-assessment to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for CSP. Self-assessment workbooks are available in hard copy at USDA Service Centers within the watersheds, and electronically at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/. After completing the self-assessment, producers should schedule an appointment to discuss their application with the NRCS local staff to determine if they meet specific CSP eligibility requirements.

USDA announced preliminary selection of the watersheds for fiscal year 2006 based on the President's budget request. Based on available funding, CSP will be offered in 60 watersheds across all 50 states, the Caribbean and Guam. The sign-up will only include those producers who do not have an existing CSP contract.

2006 marks the third CSP sign-up. The privately-owned land currently enrolled in CSP covers nearly 11 million acres in 220 eligible watersheds in all 50 states and the Caribbean Area.

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources. Payments are made using three tiers of conservation contracts. CSP will be available any year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows. Additional information about CSP is available from your local USDA Service Center or at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.

2006 Watersheds Announced

Three new Nevada watersheds have been selected for the 2006 Conservation Security Program.  The three watersheds are the South Fork near Elko and the Upper Carson and West Walker on the western side of the state.  These new watersheds represent almost 270 farms and ranches and more than 390,000 acres of potentially eligible agricultural land.

“This voluntary program recognizes farmers and ranchers for their ongoing stewardship activities on working agricultural lands,” said Vigil. “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.”

The new watersheds bring the number of Nevada CSP watersheds to six and a portion of a fourth located on the Oregon-Nevada border.  The 2005 CSP watersheds covered over 427,000 acres of potentially eligible agricultural land.  Forty-five contracts were awarded to farmers and ranchers last month, amounting to over $643,000.

Rod Dahl, CSP coordinator, said the 2006 CSP includes 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, according to Dahl.

Meetings Planned to Prepare Producers for CSP Sign-Up

NRCS and partnering organizations are sponsoring informational meetings to prepare producers for the upcoming CSP sign-up. Producers are welcome to attend any of the meetings regardless of what county it is held in. At these meetings producers can learn what kind of documentation they will need in order to be eligible when the CSP sign-up begins later this year. Go to the respective Web page for your watershed (listed below) to learn where and when meetings will be held.

More 2006 CSP information will be posted soon. Please check back for updates.

Related Web Pages

South Fork Watershed 2006

NRCS National CSP Website

CSP Brochures and Fact Sheets

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader

2006 CSP Overview Fact Sheet (PDF;)
2006 Enhancement Cost List (DOC;)
Eligibility, Qualifications and Steps to Apply (PDF;)
Get Ready, Get Set, Get in CSP (PDF;)

Map of CSP Designated Watersheds in Nevada                                

CSP Nevada Watersheds Map 2006

CSP Self Assessment

On-line Self Assessment Tool

Related Program Information                                                               

Conservation Security Program, Section 2001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) (PDF;)

Get Ready for CSP

Your opportunity to participate in the Conservation Security Program may be coming soon. CSP is one of the many conservation programs administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist private and tribal landowners in sustaining and enhancing agricultural production. CSP rewards qualified landowners for practicing and applying proven conservation methods and techniques. Participation in the program is voluntary.

NRCS Nevada has published a brochure, Get Ready, Get Set, Get in CSP, containing tips that, while not guaranteeing a successful CSP application, can put you in a much better position to reap the rewards of your stewardship activities.

Planning ahead is the key to being eligible. In order to participate, landowners must be applying conservation practices that enhance soil quality and water quality at a minimum. In most cases, producers are probably already doing these practices, and USDA is rewarding those producers who are leaders in conservation. Simple, inexpensive management practices, such as soil and manure testing, are also required. In addition to those practices and activities which you are already doing on your farm and ranch, you may be able to improve your chances of eligibility by implementing low impact, inexpensive practices and activities that support resource conservation. Implementing management practices for soil, irrigation water, habitat, nutrients, pests, grazing, salinity, energy, and air will improve your chances of reaping the benefits of CSP.

Good record keeping of practices and activities associated with these management activities will help ensure that you can qualify for CSP. NRCS requires documentation of past management practices and activities you have done, and your records will prove your good management. Again, participation is voluntary.

Typical payments to qualified producers participating in CSP averaged approximately $40 per acre in Nevada for 2005. Contracts were written for 5 to 10 years depending upon the level of participation the landowner was willing to accept. Additional payments can be earned by implementing enhancement practices and activities. Over 50 different enhancements are available. Producers also receive payments for past stewardship and practices which were previously completed.

Cost-share funds to complete conservation practices to meet the requirements for additional enhancements are also available. NRCS also offers several other conservation programs to help you achieve your goals, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and others.

If you’d like to get ready for CSP, contact your local NRCS or conservation district office, the Nevada Association of Conservation Districts, or the NRCS State Office. If you’re not quite ready, NRCS offers a number of conservation services, cost-share programs, and technical assistance to help.

Nevada Contracts for CSP Announced

Contracts with 47 Nevada producers in the Conservation Security Program (CSP) were announced on July 25. The Nevada CSP contracts cover about 14,000 acres of private land in 3 watersheds. The total projected contract cost is $519,389.

Environmental enhancement activities offered by applicants include improving soil quality, water quality, wildlife habitat management, nutrient and pest management, air quality management and on-farm energy management.