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Conservation Security Program (CSP) 2006 | Utah NRCS

2006 Conservation Security Program Watersheds Announced

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently announced the 2006 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up will be held Feb. 13, 2006 to March 31, 2006 in 60 watersheds nationwide.

CSP Meeting in Brigham CityThe sole Utah watershed selected is the Lower Bear-Malad, in Box Elder County extending up into Idaho (see link below).  Agricultural producers within the defined boundaries will be eligible to apply for various levels of CSP benefits.

"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."

The Utah office of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service held its first CSP sign-up in 2005, with three watersheds participating (see link below to previous watersheds).

The 2006 CSP may include a renewable energy component. Eligible producers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol, for recycling 100 percent of on-farm lubricants, and for implementing energy production, including wind, solar, geothermal and methane production.

“As an agency and as a Nation we have helped farmers and ranchers correct past conservation problems such as soil erosion or water conservation since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s,” said Sylvia Gillen, Utah State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) overseeing CSP. This, however, represents a whole new direction in conservation and agricultural policy and programs. These payments for demonstrable long-term stewardship will reward many of those who undertook conservation on their own initiative and who care for the resources we all share.”

Furthermore the program is available on pastureland, rangeland and all types of cropland—including Utah’s orchards, vines, vegetables, and dry beans where agricultural programs have not always been available.

Participants will be enrolled in one of three tiers in the program, depending on the extent of the conservation treatment in place on their farm or ranch. Payments will be based in part on this existing conservation treatment as well as their willingness to undertake additional environmental enhancements.

Gillen said that while the historic application of soil and water conservation are the “price of admission” farmers will also have options to improve wildlife habitat, undertake on-farm energy conservation, improve air quality, participate in environmental monitoring, participate in watershed-wide stewardship programs, and improve nutrient and pest management activities.

NRCS will offer local workshops in the selected watershed to more fully explain the program to interested potential participants.

CSP will continue to be offered each year, on a rotational basis, in as many watersheds as funding allows. For more information on CSP see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.  For more information on other NRCS programs see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

Click on the link below for information on Utah's 2006 CSP Watershed:

Self-Assessment

A self-assessment workbook (available at the NRCS field office or online) is available to help agricultural producers determine their eligibility to participate in CSP.  To complete the self-assessment on-line, go to CSP Self-Assessment (will open in a new window). 

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Document Adobe Acrobat reader.

Utah Announces Sign-up for 2006 Conservation Security Program (168 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentDelineating Your Agricultural Operation (70KB)

Fact Sheets

For Utah, the following fact sheets list questions that will help you determine eligibility for your type of farming operation.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Document Adobe Acrobat reader.

Adobe Acrobat Document Irrigated Cropland Fact Sheet (35KB)
Adobe Acrobat Document Dry Cropland Fact Sheet  (40KB)
Adobe Acrobat Document Hayland Fact Sheet (39KB)
Adobe Acrobat Document Pasture Fact Sheet (39KB)
Adobe Acrobat Document Rangeland Fact Sheet (40KB)

Benchmark Inventory/Records

Commercial Record Keeping Software

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Document Adobe Acrobat reader or Microsoft Excel document Microsoft Excel.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentUtah Conservation Records Workbook (465KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentCropland Record Keeping Form (79KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentManure Application Record Keeping Form (55KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentManure Spreader Calibration Sheet (89KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAnimal Feeding Operation Inventory Sheet (343KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGrazing Record Sheet (28KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentRest Rotation Grazing Record Sheet (28KB)
Excel Document Cropland Record Keeping Form (70KB)
Excel Document Manure Spreading Record Sheet (28KB)
Excel Document Rest Rotation Grazing Record Sheet (31KB)
Excel Document Grazing Record Sheet (31KB)
Excel Document Field Record Keeping Forms (19KB)
Excel Document Irrigation Water Management Record Sheet (603 KB)

Task Sheets

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Document Adobe Acrobat reader.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentIrrigation Management (298 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentHabitat Management (156 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGrazing Management (248 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentEnergy Management (228 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSoil Management (298 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentPest Management (229 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentNutrient & Waste Management (345 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAir Resource Management (162 KB)

Utah Enhancements and New Practices

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Document Adobe Acrobat reader or Microsoft Word.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentUtah Enhancement Activites/New Practices (70 KB)
Utah Enhancement Activities/New Practices (206 KB)

Energy Enhancements

For more information on the statewide CSP program contact Tim Julander, NRCS Conservation Security Program Manager at (801) 524-4561.

Last Modified:  03/31/2008