CSP Vermilion County Conservation Farm Tour

Vermillion County farm showcases benefits of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

The Green family farm in Fithian, Illinois has been in production for almost 120 years.  They manage 800 acres of no-till corn and soybeans, forests, prairies, and wetlands located in scenic Vermilion County and have been protecting their natural resources for generations. A Conservation Farm Tour will be held at 10 AM on June 2, 2010 to showcase Green’s operation and discuss CSP details with interested private landowners and producers.

Owner, Kevin Green has participated in conservation programs for many years. He manages his wildlife and wetlands through USDA’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).  He also participates in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Rural Forest Landowner Assistance Program that offers cost-share and assistance to manage forest land, and works with numerous other programs that assist with soil and water management activities on his operation.

According to Kevin Green, “Managing my natural resources is a top priority. I also serve on the local Soil and Water Conservation District board and I am the past chair of the local Pheasants Forever chapter.” With so many conservation practices in place on his farm, Kevin was happy when the NRCS’ Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) came out in 2009. 

Devin Brown, Conservation Policy Advocate with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance says “CSP is designed for landowners who have a history of managing their soil and water resources with grassed waterways, filter strips, and hedgerows and who want to do even more.”

“Kevin is an extremely conservation-minded individual and a motivated producer.  He has many valuable conservation practices in place on his land and participates in numerous conservation programs.  CSP is a perfect fit for Kevin,” says Glen Franke, NRCS District Conservationist for Vermilion County.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by USDA 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.

Remarking on the benefits of CSP, Green said, “Using CSP has allowed me to develop new grassed waterways, windbreaks, and riparian field borders.”

NRCS, in cooperation with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, will sponsor a Conservation Farm Tour at the Green family farm on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.  The tour will consist of:

- A tour Kevin Green’s beautiful farm, highlighting conservation practices

- A light lunch with refreshments

- A discussion of the Conservation Stewardship Program’s incentives, eligibility requirements, and conservation benefits

The Green Family Farm’s address is 17938 N 680 E Road, Fithian, IL 61844

Directions: from I-74, take exit 206 toward Oakwood.  Turn right on Newton Rd for ½ mile. Turn left on 1800 North for 2 miles. Turn right on 680 East. Take the first driveway on the right.

According to Franke, “Many landowners in Vermilion County—and within our whole region--could benefit from CSP.  Farmers who practice conservation tillage, have grassed waterways to control erosion where they are needed, filter strips to protect streams or other water bodies on their farms, and manage their nutrients should apply.”

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, join us at Kevin Green’s Farm, 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.