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2008 Farm Bill - Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Updated 12/22/2010

Farm in Cochise Country enrolled in CSPOverview

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by:

• Undertaking additional conservation activities; and
• Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

Through CSP, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance natural resources. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, but a ranking deadlines are set throughout the year. Visit our NRCS AZ News webpage for updates on ranking deadlines.
 

Program Description

CSP is a national program, but each state has the flexibility to determine its own resource concerns. In Arizona, priority will be given in the following areas:

Agricultural Land: Air Quality, Animals, Energy, Plants, and Water Quantity
Forestry: Animals, Plants, Soil Erosion

 

Eligible applicants include operators of private agricultural land, private forest land, and Indian tribes. To be eligible to participate in CSP, applicants must:

  • Demonstrate that they are meeting the stewardship threshold for at least one resource concern; and

  • Address at least one additional priority resource concern by the end of the conservation stewardship contract.

The entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract that is operated substantially separate from other operations. Contracts will cover the entire agricultural operation and will be for 5 years.
 

2011 Enhancement Activity Job Sheets

 

Enhancement" means a type of conservation activity used to treat natural resources and improve conservation performance. Enhancements are installed at a level of management intensity that exceeds the sustainable level for a given resource concern, and those directly related to a practice standard are applied in a manner that exceeds the minimum treatment requirements of the standard.

If these are the types of enhancement you want to do on your land, CSP could be a good option for you.

 

Air Quality Enhancement Activities
AIR01 – Injecting or incorporating manure
AIR02 –Nitrogen Stabilizers or Urease Inhibitors for Nitrous Oxide Control

 

Animal Enhancement Activities
ANM27 – Wildlife-friendly fencing
ANM28 - Aquatic Organism Passage Barrier Removal
ANM29 – On-farm forage based grazing system
ANM30 – Ultra high density grazing system to improve soil quality

 

Cropland Enhancement Activities
BCR04 - Cropland Enhancement Bundle 
BCR05 - Cropland Enhancement Bundle 
 

Forest Enhancement Activities
BFO03 - Forest Enhancement Bundle 
BFO04 - Forest Enhancement Bundle 
BFO05 - Forest Enhancement Bundle


Pasture Enhancement Activities
BPA02 - Pasture Enhancement Bundle 
BPA03 - Pasture Enhancement Bundle
BPA04 - Pasture Enhancement Bundle
BPA05 - Pasture Enhancement Bundle


Range Enhancement Activities
BRA02 - Range Enhancement Bundle
BRA03 - Range Enhancement Bundle
BRA04 - Range Enhancement Bundle 
BRA05 - Range Enhancement Bundle  

Energy Enhancement Activities
ENR01- Fuel use reduction for field operations
ENR06 - Upgrade of Old Diesel Powered Pumping Plants
ENR07 – On Farm Energy Audit
ENR08 – Using nitrogen provided by legumes, animal manure and compost to supply 100% of the nitrogen needs
ENR09 - Variable Frequency Drive Electric Motors

 

Plant Enhancement Activities
PLT13 – Forest Stand Improvement for Wildfire Reduction
PLT14 – Alley cropping establishment of wildlife and beneficial insect habitat


Soil Quality Enhancement Activity
SQL08 – Intercropping to improve soil quality and increase biodiversity

 

Water Quality Enhancement Activity
WQL05 – Apply Nutrients No More Than 30 Days Prior to Planned Planting Date
WQL09 – Apply phosphorus fertilizer below the soil surface
WQT06 - Conversion to Non-Irrigated Crop Production

 


 

 

 

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