Landowners interested in USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) have until June 25, 2010 to apply for this year’s funding.

Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial, private forestland.

Congress limited enrollment for CSP nationally at 12.7 million acres per year.   Applicants will compete within identified ranking pools in Washington.

Potential applicants can use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine if the new program is suitable for their operation.  The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements and potential payments.

The checklist is available at local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices or on the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html.

Farm operators who are interested in the CSP program should contact the NRCS office in Lynden at 354 2035 ext. 102.