Conservation on the Ground –
CSP Meeting for Pickwick Lake Watershed, Huge Success
by Renea Dyer, District Conservationist, Lauderdale County, AL
On February 23, 2006, Lauderdale
County Natural Resources
Conservation Service Field Office
held a meeting to provide guidance
on the Conservation Security
Program. Pickwick Lake Watershed
is the Alabama CSP watershed for
2006.
Two weeks before the meeting,
letters were mailed to all
participates within the watershed.
The meeting was also advertised in
the local FSA newsletter. Forty-
one local producers attended and
expressed interest in the program.
Renea Dyer, Lauderdale County
District Conservationist, opened
the meeting, welcomed the local producers, and introduced the state office staff. Ben
Moore gave an in-depth presentation on the eligibility rules and regulations of the
program. Eddie Jolly discussed grazing land eligibility and Tracy Cole gave examples
of how much money could be earned through the CSP program.
Producers in Pickwick Lake Watershed attend meeting
to learn more about the Conservation Security Program
(CSP).
Each participant received a self-assessment workbook, a records book, and other CSP
information. NRCS staff provided guidance on how to fill out the self-assessment
workbook and answered local producers’ questions. Attendees were encouraged to
call their local NRCS office as soon as possible to schedule an interview and begin the
signup process.
In the Lauderdale County Field Office, feedback from the meeting has been very
positive. Producers have called with more specific eligibility questions and have begun
scheduling interviews with the Florence Field Office.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political
beliefs, reprisal, or b