The Program
CSP is a voluntary program that
provides financial and technical
assistance to promote the conser-
vation and improvement of soil,
water, air, energy, plant and animal
life, and other conservation pur-
poses on Tribal and private work-
ing farm and ranchlands. Eligible
lands include cropland, rangeland,
pasture land, as well as forested
land that is an incidental part of an
agriculture operation.
Enrollment and Basic Eligibility
Participants will be enrolled in one
of three tiers in the program,
depending on the extent of the con-
servation treatment in place on
their farm or ranch. Payments will
be based in part on this existing
conservation treatment as well as
their willingness to undertake addi-
tional environmental enhance-
ments.
Tier I: the producer must have
addressed water quality and soil
quality to meet the minimum
treatment requirements on part
of the agricultural operation
prior to acceptance into CSP.
Tier II: the producer must have
addressed water quality and soil
quality to meet the minimum
treatment requirements on the
entire agricultural operation prior
to acceptance, and agree to
address one additional resource
concern by the end of the con-
tract period.
Tier III: the producer must have
addressed all resource concerns
to a resource management sys-
tem level that meets the Field
Office Technical Guide standards
on the entire agricultural opera-
tion before acceptance into the
program, and agree to additional
enhancement activities outlined
in the sign-up announcement.
Tier I contracts are for 5 years;
maximum payment is $20,000
annually.
Tier II contracts are for 5-10
years; maximum payment is
$35,000 annually.
Tier III contracts are for 5-10
years; maximum payment is
$45,000 annually.
NRCS provides technical and
financial assistance to help
agricultural producers and
others care for the land.
NRCS has six mission goals
that include high quality,
productive soils; clean and
abundant water; healthy plant
and animal communities;
clean air; an adequate energy
supply; a