The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Frequently Asked Questions for Organic Producers
Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about CSP for organic producers. This information is subject to change, so please check back. As we learn more about this program, we will update this page. If you have any questions that you feel should be included but are not, please email Udi Lazimy, Policy Program Organizer at udi@ofrf.org.
Return to the CSP Resource Page.
PROGRAM BASICS
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
PAYMENT RATES
CSP AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
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PROGRAM BASICS
What is the Conservation Stewardship Program?
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a comprehensive working lands conservation program, administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), designed to protect and improve natural resources and the environment. CSP provides technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to actively manage and maintain existing conservation systems and to implement additional conservation activities on land in agricultural production. CSP targets funding to:
- Address priority resource concerns in a given state, watershed or region.
- Improve soil, water, and air quality.
- Provide increased biodiversity and wildlife and pollinator habitat.
- Sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change.
- Conserve water and energy.
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How is this program different from the Conservation Security Program?
The Conservation Security Program, also administered by NRCS, was only open to farmers and ranchers in a small number of watersheds each year, and sign-up was only once a year. However, after applicants met eligibility requirements, the Conservation Security Program was less competitive.
The new Conservation Stewardship Program was created in the 2008 Farm Bill. This program is open to all farmers and ranchers on a continuous sign-up basis, but it is a highly competitive program where applicants are ranked relative to the other farmers and ranchers applying in their state or region. Each year, the CSP will enroll 12.8 million acres of crop, pasture, range and forest lands into the program.
Another major difference related to the sign-up process for the two programs is that enrollment under the Conservation Security Program emphasized existing conservation practices and activities and only a limited number of new activities, leaving other new practices to an annual process by which producers can modify their contracts. By contrast, the Conservation Stewardship Program will address both the active management and maintenance of existing conservation and all planned new conservation activities for the next five years in the original contract, without the need for annual contract modifications.
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Am I eligible to apply for CSP?
You are eligible to apply for CSP if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Your adjusted gross income from farming is less than $1 million ($2 million for most married couples) unless at least two-thirds of your total adjusted gross income is farm income, in which case there is no limitation.
- If applicable, your farm is in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation compliance requirements.
- You have documented control of the land for the term of the contract (5 years).
- You must enroll the whole farm, including rented and owned land.
- Land you are enrolling must be private land, tribal agricultural land or non-industrial private forest land, including cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, cropped woodlands, marshes, land used for livestock production, and other private lands on which resource concerns can be addressed.
- Land already enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Grasslands Reserve Program cannot also be enrolled in CSP, though such land will count toward your whole farm enrollment requirement.
- Land already enrolled in the old Conservation Security Program cannot be enrolled in the new Conservation Stewardship Program until the old contract has expired.
- Land that is cropped after June 2008 that has not been cropped in 4 out of the previous 6 years (unless it was in the Conservation Reserve Program or was part of a long-term rotation practice) is also ineligible.
In addition to these requirements, you must also be already addressing at least one priority resource concern at the established stewardship threshold level at the time of application, agree to adopt or install additional conservation activities during the contract period, and address at least one more priority resource concern at the stewardship threshold level during the first 5-year contract period.
You must also establish a record with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and be the operator of record in the FSA system.
For additional eligibility requirements, download the CSP Producer Self-Screening checklist (PDF).
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Can I enroll land in CSP and in other NRCS Conservation Programs?
You cannot enroll land in CSP that is also enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Grasslands Reserve Program, or the Conservation Security Program. However, you can enroll a portion of your land in one of the reserve programs while placing the rest of the farm in the Conservation Stewardship Program. For instance, you could enroll a riparian buffer in the CRP or a restored wetland in the WRP and then place the working lands that remain in the CSP. You can have the same land enrolled in CSP and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) or the Agricultural Management Assistance program, but you cannot receive payments from CSP and those programs for the same conservation practices.
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What kinds of activities does CSP reward?
CSP rewards both your current conservation efforts and future conservation activities.
Current Conservation Efforts
Your existing conservation efforts that count towards CSP ranking scores and payments are not in the form of a list of conservation practices or enhancements. Rather, NRCS will assess your existing conservation efforts with a new tool called the Conservation Measurement Tool, which will be available on the NRCS website in the next few weeks.
Future Conservation Activities
NRCS has published a list of conservation practices and conservation enhancements that will be eligible for reward should you include them as part of your future conservation activities. Download the NRCS Conservation Activity List (PDF) and the individual job sheets for each conservation activity.
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What is the deadline for applying to CSP?
Sign up for CSP is continuous but NRCS will have periodic cut-off dates where they will rank applications they received to determine who receives a contract. The cut-off date for all 2010 enrollments was June 25, 2010. Applications submitted now will be considered for the 2011 ranking.
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Where do I find instructions on how to apply for CSP?
This FAQ answers several questions about the CSP Application Process. Scroll down to view them. In addition, you will find detailed instructions on how to apply and links to online forms, visit any one of the helpful weblinks below. You can also contact your local NRCS office. We will add more links here as we learn of them.
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If I miss the deadline, can I still apply for CSP?
Yes, you can still apply for CSP. Your application will be held until the next ranking period cutoff.
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What is the length of a CSP contract?
All CSP contracts are five years long. You can extend your contract for a second five years if you meet the following specific criteria:
- You are in compliance with the terms of your initial contract.
- You have added any newly-acquired eligible land that is part of your operation and meets minimum treatment criteria as established by NRCS.
- You meet stewardship thresholds for additional priority resource concerns as determined by NRCS.
- You agree to adopt conservation activities as determined by NRCS.
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How is the schedule of activities I will have to complete during my CSP contract determined?
When you are developing your CSP contracts with NRCS, you will determine the schedule of activities you plan to complete. You are required to complete all new enhancement activities by the third year of the contract, and you must complete at least one of these activities in the first year of the contract.
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THE APPLICATION PROCESS
How much time should I plan to spend with my district NRCS person in order to complete my CSP application?
It will vary depending on the past and current conservation efforts you are making and the new conservation activities you plan to undertake.
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How do I obtain a farm record number from the Farm Service Agency if I do not have one, and why is that important?
In order to be eligible to apply for any NRCS program, you must establish a record in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) system and acquire a federal farm ID number. To establish a record, you need to make an appointment at your local FSA Service Center. Bring the following documents with you to the appointment: proof of ownership (deed) or lease of the land, location maps outlining crop fields and other land uses as they are currently managed, and any business related legal papers (article of incorporation, trusts etc). Local FSA offices have been put on alert that CSP enrollees that lack FSA farm numbers will be coming to the office to take care of this prerequisite. To find your FSA Service Center, use the FSA Service Center locator.
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What is the producer self-assessment checklist?
The producer self-assessment checklist is a short questionnaire that you complete to determine if CSP is right for you. For more information, download the checklist (PDF).
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What is the Conservation Measurement Tool and why is it important?
The Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT) is a set of questions organized by land use categories (cropland, pasture, forest, and rangeland) used to evaluate an applicant's baseline level of conservation and additional activities s/he plans to undertake during the CSP contract. NRCS will use the CMT to determine eligibility, rank CSP applicants relative to other applicants, and calculate payment rates.
After submitting the initial application, applicants complete the CMT with NRCS field staff at their local NRCS service center. Data about current conservation activities as well as the planned conservation work for the five year contract period is entered into the CMT, and the CMT uses that data to calculate a ranking score. The ranking score is tied to how effectively conservation activities and enhancements address priority resource concerns in each state. The type of land use also affects the ranking score, with cropland typically receiving a higher score. Applicants with the highest ranking scores relative to those in each ranking pools and regions will be awarded CSP contracts until all 12.8 million acres are accounted for.
When you are completing the CMT, your understanding of the questions as well as your ability to provide the most accurate responses to the questions will be critical in determining the best possible ranking score for your application.
For more information, review the CMT questions on the NRCS CSP website.
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How does the CMT rank applicants?
The CMT ranking is based on four, equally-weighted factors:
- The baseline leve of conservation at the time of the application
- The level of proposed additional conservation to be added during the contract term
- The number of priority resource concerns addressed before enrolling in the program or during the contract term
- The number of other resource concerns, in addition to the priority resource concerns, addressd before enrolling in the program o during the contract term
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What is a priority resource concern?
A resource concern is a specific natural resource problem that is likely to be addressed successfully through the implementation of conservation activities. A priority resource concern are the resource concerns identified by each state as the most critical in that state.
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How do I find my state's priority resource concerns for CSP?
Call your local NRCS office or check your state NRCS online CSP info page. To find your local office, use the NRCS Service Center Locator. To find your state office website, visit our NRCS State Offices contact info page.
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What is the stewardship threshold?
The stewardship threshold is the level of natural resource conservation and environmental management required to conserve and improve the quality of and condition of a natural resource. To be eligible for CSP, you must meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for at least one priority resource concern and be willing to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for at least one additional priority resource concern during the term of the contract. This threshold will be measured by the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT).
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What is the difference between a conservation practice and a conservation enhancement?
Conservation practices are specified treatments, such as a structural or vegetative practice or management technique, commonly used to meet a specific conservation need in planning and carrying out soil and water conservation programs for which standards and specifications have been developed. Conservation practices are in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG).
Conservation enhancements are activities specifically designed for CSP that are installed and adopted to treat natural resources and improve conservation performance. Enhancements are implemented at a level of management intensity that exceeds the sustainable level for a given resource concern. Those directly related to a practice standard are applied in a manner that exceeds the minimum acceptable criteria of the standard. An example of an enhancement is a grass-type cover crop used to scavenge nitrogen left in the soil after the harvest of a previous crop.
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What is a "bundle"?
A "bundle is a group of specific enhancements which, when installed as a group, address resource concerns synergistically. NRCS created 7 bundles of enhancements for the 2010 CSP sign-up. The Cropland Enhancement Bundle #2, or BCR02 may be of particular interest to producers who use organic practices as this bundle includes several enhancements that correspond with organic practices.
Applicants who choose to implement a bundle will receive an increase in ranking points and payments relative to choosing the same number of individual enhancements. However, producers who choose a bundle must install all of its respective enhancements.
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What is a resource-conserving crop rotation?
For the 2010 ranking period, NRCS is using a stricter definition of resource-conserving crop rotations than they did in 2009. A resource-conserving crop rotation is a crop rotation that (1) includes at least one resource conserving crop as determined by the State Conservationist; (2) reduces erosion; (3) improves soil fertility and tlth; (4) interrupts pest cycles; and (5) in applicable areas, reduces depletion of soil moisture or otherwise reduces the need for irrigation.
CSP offers an additional supplemental payment to producers who adopt resource-conserving crop rotations.
For more information, read the NRCS Activity Sheet for resource-conserving crop rotations (PDF).
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What type of documentation would be helpful when I am completing my CSP application and the Conservation Measurement Tool?
NRCS does not specify types of documentation, only that applicants will need to provide verification of their existing conservation activities. NRCS does provide downloadable documents detailing the questions the CMT will ask CSP applicants.
If you are a certified organic producer, your Organic System Plan (OSP) will be useful in completing the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The OSP will also be useful when NRCS conducts a field visit to verify that the information you included in your application and entered into the CMT are true.
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What type of documentation must I have and maintain in order to participate in CSP?
NRCS does not specify the kind of documentation producers must have, but you will need to substantiate their past conservation efforts when NRCS conducts a field visit to verify that the information you entered into the Conservation Measurement Tool is true. You can also download the questions that the CMT will ask you to help determine what kind of documents you will need.
If you are a certified organic grower, you will be able to use your Organic System Plan as part of your documentation.
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Must I have conducted soil tests on all of my fields in order for the field to be eligible for CSP?
Soil tests are not required to participate in CSP. However when you complete the Conservation Measurement Tool, you will need to have some kind of documentation to substantiate your conservation efforts. NRCS does not specific the kinds of documentation that will be required.
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What are the different ranking pools for CSP?
Some applicants will be pooled for ranking into several special pools. The new CSP offers a pool of funds for applicants in control of non-industrial private forest lands (10% of the total 12.8 million acres allowed annually into the program). Also, if state NRCS offices have elected to divide the state into sub-regions with separate priority resources of concern, applicants will be ranked in that sub-region. Additionally, separate pools for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and beginning farmers or ranchers are established in each state. For each of these two pools, 5% of the available program acreage is available and ranking will occur within these pools and separate from the general ranking procedure in the state.
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How do I find out about the different ranking pools in my state?
Call your local NRCS office or check your state's NRCS online CSP info page. To find your local office, use the NRCS Service Center Locator. To find your state office website, visit our NRCS State Offices contact info page.
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PAYMENT RATES
How much will producers who participate in CSP get paid?
Annual payment amounts for CSP are based on the costs incurred by impelemting activities, income forfeited by the producer, and expected environmental benefits. The number of acres an applicant is enrolling in CSP and the type of land enrolled also determine the annual payment.
Annual payments are calculated using the Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT calculates performance points based on applicants existing conservation activities and future conservation activities. Future conservation activities have a higher payment rate than existing conservation activities. These points are multiplied by the acreage on which each conservation activity is performed and then multiplied again by the land-use payment rate. The land-use payment rate is hightest for cropland, followed by pasture, and rangeland and forest land at the lowest end. Finally, producers who use resource-conserving crop rotations will receive an additional supplemental payment.
A person or entity may not receive more than $40,000 per year in CSP payments and $200,000 over any five-year period. Joint operations are limited to $80,000 and $400,000 respectively.
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Is there a minimum payment for small farmers participating in CSP?
NRCS will make a minimum contract payment for small producers where the annual contract payment would otherwise be less than $1000 if the producer is a beginning farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged, or limited resource. The rate of the minimum payment has not yet been determined.
Can I receive payments for land I rent as well as land I own?
You can receive payments for land you rent and/or own, as long as you can document that you have control of the land for the length of the CSP contract, which is five years. All land, whether owned or rent, is to be enrolled in the program. The only exception would be for land that is run as a completely separate operation with separate equipment, labor, finances, and management.
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How many years can I receive conservation payments under CSP?
You will receive conservation payments under CSP for the length of the CSP contract. Each year’s payment rate will be the same. All CSP contracts are five years, and CSP contracts can be extended for an additional five years if the terms of the first contract have been fulfilled and additional conservation efforts are agreed to.
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What is the schedule of payments for my CSP contract?
The total amount of payments that you receive is averaged out for each of the five years and you receive one payment a year until the end of the contract. Due to the very late start for the 2009 sign-up, both 2009 contract holders and 2010 contract holders will receive their first payment in October of 2010.
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I enrolled in CSP in 2009. When will I start to receive payments?
CSP participants who enrolled in 2009 will receive their first payment in October of 2010.
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CSP AND ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
What kind of assistance does CSP provide to organic producers?
CSP does not make a distinction between organic and non-organic production systems. However, organic production systems are generally very good conservation systems and are likely to rank high. Among the CSP enhancements that you may select as part of your CSP contracts are organic cropping systems, organic grazing systems, organic pest management, organic conservation tillage, and non-chemical pest control for livestock.
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Is there a special organic set aside?
The CSP does not have a special organic set aside at this time.
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What kinds of conservation activities can I implement under CSP that correspond with requirements for organic certification?
NRCS has a correlationn chart available on their website that indicates which requirements under the National Organic Program correspond with conservation activities that are part of CSP. Download the chart on the NRCS website. In addition, NRCS has created a bundle of enhancements including several enhancements that correspond with organic practices. For more information, read the NRCS Activity Sheet for the Cropland Enhancement Bundle #2 or BCR02.
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How is CSP different from the EQIP Organic Initiative?
CSP provides ongoing payments for active management and maintenance of current conservation efforts and supports new conservation efforts. While CSP has organic-specific enhancements for you to choose from, the program per se is not specific to organic or non-organic systems of production. CSP also requires a high level of conservation effort to get into the program. The EQIP Organic Initiative provides one-time payments to producers to implement new conservation practices that will be part of transitioning to organic production or will enhance current conservation efforts by existing organic producers. For more information on the EQIP Organic Initiative, visit our EQIP OI Resource Page.
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Is there anyone that can help me understand the Conservation Measurement Tool so I properly interpret the questions in order to improve my competitive edge as an organic farmer?
Although it varies highly from one NRCS field office to the other, in general. NRCS field staff has only limited experience working with organic production systems. As an organic farmer, you will have to work to communicate the differences between your system of production and other conventional systems. For example, NRCS field staff may understand Integrated Pest management planning but not how to manage pests without the use of synthetic pesticides. This will be an opportune time to educate them on your organic system plan and how you are conserving important natural resources through organic production.
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I am certified organic under the NOP. How can I use my Organic System Plan to expedite my CSP application?
An organic system plan should help the NRCS field staff understand your current conservation activities and should help in providing the information needed for the Conservation Measurement Tool. This will depend on the familiarity of the NRCS field staff with organic production systems and how such systems relate to good conservation practices.
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Can I use the same farm/field maps for organic certification and for CSP?
Yes. These maps should help NRCS field staff input information into the Conservation Measurement Tool and with field-verification of your current and future conservation efforts.
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If approved, will I qualify for a special payment because I am certified organic?
There is no payment bonus for organic producers per se. However, there are several organic-specific enhancements that you may adopt as new practices (organic cropping systems, organic grazing systems, organic pest management, organic conservation tillage, and non-chemical pest control for livestock). Read the NRCS chart that correlates organic practices with CSP conservation activities. In addition, new or improved resource-conserving crop rotations may qualify for a special CSP supplemental payment.
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Is my CSP ranking score impacted if I manage my land organically, but am not certified?
In general, organically managed land (whether certified or not) should provide multiple conservation benefits. The CSP does not distinguish explicitly between certified organic, non-certified organic, and non-organic agriculture systems, so your organic certification status should not impact your CSP application or ranking score.
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Page updated December 15, 2010. |
