Nearly 100 Utah Farmers Approved for $1.2 Million in Contracts Under a New USDA Conservation Security Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Ron Francis,  (801) 524-4557

Salt Lake City, UT, July 29, 2005 – Sylvia Gillen, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Utah, announced that 91 Utah farmers/ranchers will be among those offered $1,218,978 in new contracts in the Conservation Security Program (CSP). USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner recently announced that $145 million in new contracts are being offered to some 12,700 farmers and ranchers across the country.

While CSP was offered on a limited basis last summer, this is the first year agricultural producers in all 50 states in 220 watershed locations were given an opportunity to participate in the program. USDA expects to fully invest the $202 million provided by Congress in covering the new contracts as well as those signed in 2004.

Unlike most federal farm conservation programs that are designed to address resource problems, CSP is intended to recognize those farmers and ranchers who have already applied a full conservation system that addresses soil quality and water quality to meet program criteria. The bulk of the CSP contract payment, however, is based on agreements to further enhance these and other resources including wildlife habitat, energy conservation, and air quality.

Of the 220 participating watersheds three were in Utah. They are the Little Bear Logan, the San Pitch (Sanpete County), and the Montezuma (Monticello).

“Thousands of Utah farmers are committed to doing the hard day-to-day work of making the right choices for the land and other natural resources that they manage. They don’t boast about it and they don’t often get much recognition, but CSP is a step towards rewarding the work they do,” Gillen said. “Furthermore, these proven stewards are good candidates for our nation to invest in to further improve the resources that sustain our families, our communities and our landscapes.”

CSP applicants participate in the program on three different tiers reflecting both their documented historical conservation management as well as their agreement to do additional environmental enhancements. In Utah 43 applications were approved at Tier I, six at Tier II, and 42 at Tier III. Tier III recognizes the highest level of conservation.

In Utah, CSP contracts will run between $1,000 and $38,000 per year for 5-10 years. A broad range of conservation work that protects and enhances natural resources is being funded; typical conservation included in Utah contracts includes environmental improvements such as Soil condition improvements, delayed haying for wildlife benefit, reduced pesticide use, and improved rotational grazing systems.

To commemorate the first CSP signing in Utah, Gillen announced that an 11:00 am ceremony will be held August 9 at the Sunderland farming operations near Moroni, Utah. The Sunderland dairy, turkey and crop operation is an example of those conservation-oriented farms that were accepted for Tier III CSP participation.

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America’s natural resources. For more information on CSP and other NRCS programs see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. (See attached table for acreage, tiers and payments by watershed)
 

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