FY 2006 CSP Contract Funding Announced

Auburn, Ala. - June 21, 2006

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Gary Kobylski recently announced the funding of 79 Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts in Alabama in the Pickwick Lake Watershed.

"This year more producers enrolled in the Conservation Security Program, demonstrating that incentives work for voluntary conservation programs," said Kobylski. "The conservation benefits derived from this program will help farmers to improve their operations and increase the quality of our natural resources, benefiting all citizens of Alabama."

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that rewards private landowners for their ongoing stewardship of natural resources. CSP touches all agricultural production sectors from livestock operations to cropland and from orchards and vineyards to nursery crops. The 2006 contracts encourage producers to further conserve and improve soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on their operations, while, at the same time, creating incentives for other producers to meet those same standards of conservation performance. Environmental enhancement activities offered by Alabama applicants include improving soil quality, water quality, wildlife habitat management, nutrient and pest management, air quality management and on-farm energy management.

Payments will be made under three tiers of conservation contracts capped at $20,000, $35,000 and $45,000 annually. CSP contracts last for five years for Tier I contracts and 5-10 years for Tier II and Tier III contracts. CSP will be available each year in Alabama on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.

NRCS financial and technical assistance promotes the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes.

Additional information on CSP is at http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp06/index.html.