NCGA Applauds USDA Moving Up CSP Sign-Up Period (2-2-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased the United States Department of Agriculture has considered planting time when scheduling the 2006 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up period.

NCGA, along with other agricultural groups, wrote a letter to Secretary Mike Johanns in January asking the USDA to move up the sign-up period in order to accommodate producers’ planting schedules. The sign-up period is Feb. 13-March 31.

“NCGA is extremely pleased USDA has moved up the sign-up dates for the CSP program,” said Bill Chase, chairman of NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team. “The early sign-up period allows growers to make the best planting decisions for their operations. This decision clearly indicates that Secretary Johanns is listening to what producers have to say and we thank him for the opportunity to comment.”

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources.

“USDA is committed to providing a fair and equitable program that rewards our nation’s leading conservationists,” said Johanns. “This year, we’re providing applicants the ability to sign up prior to most planting decisions to encourage more conservation leaders.”

USDA preliminarily selected 110 watersheds for fiscal year 2006 based on President George W. Bush’s budget request. Available funding trimmed the number to 60 watersheds across all 50 states, Guam and the Caribbean. This sign-up period will only include those producers who do not have an existing CSP contract.

“We are disappointed the federal funding is not sufficient enough to include all watersheds outlined in the original budget,” Chase said. “But we are hopeful that growers take advantage of the available funds and the early sign-up period.”

To sign up, growers must fill out a self-assessment to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for CSP. Workbooks are available at USDA Service Centers within the watersheds and electronically at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/. After completing the self-assessment, growers discuss their application with local NRCS staff to determine eligibility requirements.