Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation.  Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. NRCS can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. For example, NRCS can look at ways to address the amount of soil lost; mitigate the impact of excess water; reduce the contribution of agricultural operations to airborne soil particles and greenhouse gas emissions; improve the cover, food, and water available for domestic and wildlife species; or promote energy efficiencies for on-farm activities. If you are already taking steps to improve the condition of the land, chances are CSP can help you find new ways to meet your goals.

Benefits:

CSP is for working lands. It is the largest conservation program in the United States. Thousands of people voluntarily enroll in the program because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation.

CSP participants are seeing real results.  Some of these benefits include:

• Enhanced resiliency to weather and market volatility

• Decreased need for agricultural inputs

• Improved wildlife habitat conditions

Applicants may include individuals, legal entities, joint operations, or Indian tribes that meet the stewardship threshold for at least two priority resource concerns when they apply. They must also agree to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for at least one additional priority resource concern by the end of the contract. Producers must have effective control of the land for the term of the proposed contract. 

CSP contracts run for five years. Contract payments are based on two components: payments to maintain the existing level of conservation on land included in the contract, and payments to implement additional conservation activities. Most participants are eligible for a minimum payment of $4,000 in any year their total annual contract payment falls below that amount. Existing CSP participants may compete to renew their contract for an additional five-year term during the fifth year of their initial contract, provided they have met the terms of the initial contract and agree to meet or exceed additional priority resource concerns to meet the renewal stewardship threshold.

To get started, reach out to your local NRCS representative.