Natural Resources Conservation Service 200 North High Street, Room 522 Columbus, OH 43215 Voice: 614.255.2471 Email: [email protected] Web: www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov News Release Contact:ChrisCoulon 614‐255‐2471 USDAAcceptingApplicationsforConservationStewardshipProgram $100millionExpectedtoAttractEnrollmentof7.7MillionAcresforConservation COLUMBUS,Jan.27,2015–TheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturewillmake$100millionavailablethisyear throughtheConservationStewardshipProgram(CSP).Applicationsareacceptedallyear;however, interestedfarmersandforestlandownersshouldsubmitapplicationsbyFebruary27,2015,toensure considerationforthisyear’sfunding(applicationsreceivedafterthatdatewillbeconsideredforfuture funding).TheUSDANaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)administersCSPandmayenrollupto 7.7millionacresthisyear. “CSPprovidesanincentiveforfarmersandprivateforestmanagerswhoalreadypracticeconservationon theirlandtoachieveevenhigherlevelsofstewardship,”saidTerryCosby,Ohio’sNRCSState Conservationist.“Byaddressingmultipleresourceconcerns,suchassoilerosion,air,andwaterquality, landownersmaintainorincreasetheproductivityoftheiroperationsonamoresustainablelandscape.” CosbysaidCSPproducersareconservationleaders,showinghowscience‐basedconservationand technologicaladvancementscanimprovetheenvironmentandfarmingoperationsatthesametime.For example,JoeCeluch,afarmerinOhio’sAppalachianfoothills,fencedcattleoutofpondsandstreams, installeddiversionstoslowdownandre‐routesurfacewaterrunoff,anddevelopedarotationalgrazing systemtoprovidebetterforagecoverinhispastures.Thisstewardshipofnaturalresources,incentivized throughCSP,helpstonotonlybenefithiscattle,butalsoleadstocleanerwaterandhealthiersoil. The2014FarmBillexpandedCSP’sconservationactivitylistthatoffersparticipantsmoreoptionstomeet theirconservationneedsandprotectthenaturalresourcesontheirland.Theseconservationactivities, calledenhancements,includecovercrops,intensiverotationalgrazing,andwildlifefriendlyfencing. FarmersandforestlandownersinterestedinsubmittingapplicationsforCSPshouldmakeanappointment withthelocalNRCSconservationisttocompletearesourceinventoryoftheirlandtodeterminethe conservationperformanceforexistingandnewconservationactivities.Thisinformationwillbeusedto establishprogrameligibility,rankapplications,andcalculatepayments. LandownersmayalsouseaCSPself‐screeningchecklisttodetermineiftheprogramissuitablefortheir operation.ThechecklisthighlightsbasicinformationaboutCSPeligibilityrequirements,stewardship thresholdrequirements,andpaymenttypes. ApplicationsforCSPsubmittedbyentities,suchasfarmersapplyingasacorporation,musthaveaDUNS (DataUniversalNumberingSystem)numberandanactiveSAM(SystemforAwardManagement) registrationstatuswhenapplying,aprocessthatmaytakeseveralweeks.Applicationscannotbe processedwithoutthisinformation.InformationonobtainingaDUNSnumberandregisteringwithSAMis postedatwww.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill. ‐more‐ The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Formoreontechnicalandfinancialassistanceavailablethroughconservationprograms,visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStartedoralocalUSDAservicecenter. Today'sannouncementwasmadepossiblebythe2014FarmBill.The2014FarmBillbuildsonhistoric economicgainsinruralAmericaoverthepastfiveyears,whileachievingmeaningfulreformandbillionsof dollarsinsavingsfortaxpayers.Sinceenactment,USDAhasmadesignificantprogresstoimplementeach provisionofthiscriticallegislation,includingprovidingdisasterrelieftofarmersandranchers; strengtheningriskmanagementtools;expandingaccesstoruralcredit;fundingcriticalresearch; establishinginnovativepublic‐privateconservationpartnerships;developingnewmarketsforrural‐made products;andinvestingininfrastructure,housing,andcommunityfacilitiestohelpimprovequalityoflife. # 2