Farmers may apply for conservation stewardship program through Feb. 3

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service in Delaware is accepting applications for the updated Conservation Stewardship Program through Friday, Feb. 3, for enrollment this year.

Agricultural producers and forest landowners can earn incentive payments through the program for expanding conservation activities on their land, such as cover crops, ecologically based pest management, buffer strips, and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat. The program encourages farmers to adopt cutting-edge technologies and new approaches such as precision agriculture applications, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rate, and new soil amendments to improve water quality.

The program was recently updated to help producers better evaluate their conservation options, and the benefits to their operations and natural resources. New methods and software for evaluating applications will allow producers to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These new tools also allow producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process. All program contracts will have a minimum annual payment of $1,500.

"With the updated CSP, Delaware's farmers will have greater flexibility at the local level to prioritize resource concerns and even more opportunities to implement conservation activities," said Kasey Taylor, NRCS state conservationist in Delaware.

For more information, call 302-856-3990, Ext. 3, or go to www.nrcs.usda.gov.