Delaware farmers can sign up for stewardship program by March 31

Delaware farmers and forestry producers who are committed to improving their land management practices can now sign up for the Conservation Stewardship Program or renew expiring CSP contracts to earn incentive payments for the environmental benefits their operations produce.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has set aside $150 million for CSP with a goal of enrolling an additional 10 million acres.

“With this investment, we’ll be enabling those producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land to achieve even higher levels and adopt new and emerging conservation technologies on privately owned farms and forests,” said Delaware State Conservationist Kasey Taylor.

NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers should submit applications or requests for renewal by Thursday, March 31, to their local USDA service centers to ensure they are considered for enrollment in 2016.

Interested landowners can choose from an expanded conservation activity list with greater options to meet their needs and protect the natural resources on their land. These conservation activities, called enhancements, include cover crops, irrigation pumping plant evaluations, irrigation water management and air quality practices, and many more.

Since 2009, NRCS in Delaware has worked with farmers to enter into 74 CSP contracts covering 64,800 acres for a total of $3.8 million.

Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, improved pastureland, nonindustrial private forestland and tribal agricultural land. Applicants must have control of the land for the five-year term of the contract. A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help farmers determine whether the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

To learn more about CSP in Sussex County, call 302-856-3990, Ext. 3, or go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/de/programs/financial/csp.