Conservation Security Program Launches Sign-up in July,
But Only for a Few
July 4, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Loni Kemp 507-743-8300
CANTON, MN – The Natural Resources Conservation Service will take applications for the long-awaited Conservation Security Program during July 6-30, but only in one percent of the nation’s watersheds. In the Midwest, the Blue Earth River watershed along the Minnesota-Iowa border is eligible, along with the Nishnabotna River watershed in Iowa and the Lower Chippewa River watershed in Wisconsin.
“It is extremely disappointing that the Bush Administration ignored input from well over 11,000 individuals and organizations who submitted comments on the draft rule that the Conservation Security Program should be open to all farmers,” said Loni Kemp, Senior Policy Analyst at the Minnesota Project. “This small signup is great news for a few farmers, but we are looking forward to next time when Congress provides the funding necessary to drop the watershed restriction and open it up to all,” said Kemp. “The House passed a funding increase last week, but we are counting on the Senate to maintain full open-enrollment funding, as called for in the farm bill,” she added.
NRCS is holding local meetings this week – 17 in Blue Earth and more in Iowa and Wisconsin – where farmers in the selected watersheds will be able to determine if they are amongst the high-achieving conservationists who can enroll this time.
Farmers in those watersheds who have multiple soil and water conservation practices in place may be eligible for enrollment in the new program. The NRCS has prepared a self-assessment workbook that farmers will need to complete.
Kemp said, “USDA set an extremely high bar in this signup for having existing conservation in place on the farm prior to enrollment. We would rather have them enroll any farmer willing to meet that high bar in the initial phase of their CSP contract. It is supposed to be an incentive, not a barrier.”
Farmers must answer yes to every one of a couple of dozen questions on a self assessment survey to qualify. For those who do make it in to the program, annual payments will include from $1.56 to $14.06 per acre as reward for past conservation efforts and maintenance costs, plus enhancement payments for adding certain conservation management practices. In addition, fifty percent cost-share is available for other new conservation practices.
“This year’s signup is an experiment,” Kemp said. “We are confident it will show how much farmers want this type of program. But it will also demonstrate how the Administration can make it more farmer-friendly for the future. With the World Trade Organization challenging the very structure of commodity programs, farmers know they need an alternative program in place. Earning green payments by taking care of the nation’s land and water is an excellent policy for both farmers and taxpayers,” she said.