CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM (CSP)

1
CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM (CSP)
United States Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service

• Farm Security and RuralInvestment Act of 2002

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Program Philosophy

• Reward the best, motivate the rest
• Not a cost-share program to apply practices
• A conservation planning program to address
  natural resource concerns

3
CSP Key Points

• Awaiting proposed rule release
• Most widely known program acronym
• Excellent marketing tool

4
CSP Key Points

• Supports ongoing conservation stewardship on
  working lands
• Rewards producers who meet highest conservation
  standards
• Creates incentives for others to achieve those
  same standards

5
CSP Key Points

• 3.7 billion authorization 2003-2013
• lt 5 percent of eligible producers will be
  enrolled due to authorized funding levels
• Law limits lt15 percent of program funding for CTA

6
CSP Key Points

• Program realities
• RMS planning emphasis
• Program infancy

7
CSP Payments One or More Components

• Annual base component for benchmark treatment
• Annual existing practice component for
  maintaining existing practices
• One-time new practice payment
• Enhancement component for going further than
  quality criteria

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Potential Sign-up Scenario

• NRCS determines criteria
• NRCS announces program and criteria
• Producer self-screening and inventory
• Producer application

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Potential Sign-up Scenario

• NRCS determines eligibility
• NRCS determines tier
• NRCS determines offers based on announcement
  priorities