Conservation Security Program (CSP)
CSP is one of the newest Federal conservation programs. It provides financial and technical support to assist landowners in the promotion of conservation, and is based upon a producer's conservation accomplishments. The program focuses its efforts on improving soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life. It creates incentives for producers to set standards of conservation performance and practices. The CSP hopes to build a foundation of natural resource conservation that provides benefits to the public for a long time to come.
CSP is available in selected watersheds across the nation. Each year, new watersheds are selected for enrollments which include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture land and rangeland. Any producer who has land within a selected watershed is eligible to enroll in three different tiers that represent increasing levels of resource treatment within the program. Contracts range from five to ten years.
QUOTES:
"This is a unique program that offers payments for enhancing natural resources, rewards those farmers and ranchers who are model conservationists and provides incentives for other producers to meet those same high standards of environmental performance,"
- Mike Johanns, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Over 15.5 million acres have been enrolled in three years
- An estimated 2,119 watersheds are located in the United States
- Every watershed in the United States is available for enrollment within an eight-year cycle
- The program rewards the best and motivates the rest
Timeline:
2002 - CSP was established through the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
2004 - First sign-up with 18 watersheds identified
2005 - 202 additional watersheds added to the program
2006 - 60 watersheds added
