CSP Informational Meeting for Southern Illinois Farmers in Harrisburg

Meeting on Thursday, June 3 on the benefits of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Southern Illinois farmers, ranchers, and wood lot owners are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, June 3 on the Conservation Stewardship Program.  The meeting will be held at the City of Harrisburg, Pruett Building, 107 East Church Street in downtown Harrisburg from 11:00 to 1:00.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is a voluntary conservation program designed to encourage agricultural and forestry producers to adopt additional conservation practices and improve, maintain and manage existing ones.  Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forestland, and agricultural land.

Producers who enroll and are accepted receive a 5 year CSP contract with a payment cap of $200,000.   In 2009 Illinois had 175,298 acres enrolled in CSP, which totaled over $4 million in payments to farmers, ranchers, and forest owners.  However, few Southern Illinois Counties showed much interest in the program.

“A lot of farms in Southern Illinois are diverse.” says Devin Brown, Conservation Policy Advocate with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.  “Many of these farms have some forest, some pasture, some crop land, and most already manage their land for erosion, water quality, and nutrients.  Because CSP includes so many conservation practices and land uses, it could really work well for farmers down in this part of the state.”

“I manage my forests for health, productivity, and wildlife habitat.” says Josh Brown of Jackson County who received a 2009 CSP contract.  “CSP payments help with the cost of invasive species control, timber stand improvement, and erosion control.”

“CSP encourages enhanced conservation, but also rewards landowners with a history of land stewardship.” says Troy Daniell, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Southern Illinois.  “It promotes sustainable agricultural ecosystems by improving water quality, air quality, and energy conservation.” 

Commenting on CSP sign-up, Robert Mount of Johnson County says “I have forest, crop land, and hay land enrolled in CSP.  The sign-up went pretty smooth.  As long as you keep good records, it is straight forward.”

The Conservation Stewardship Program is now available statewide through continuous enrollment with announced cut-off application dates for ranking periods.  The next ranking cut-off for 2010 sign-up is June 11, 2010.  To learn if CSP is right for your operation, come to the informational meeting June 3rd, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html, or call your local NRCS office.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a statewide membership that promotes ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially just local food systems through policy development, advocacy and education

                                                                                                                                                             NRCS: Helping People Help The Land. USDA NRCS is an equal opportunity employer and provider.