[ODF_Private_Forests] USDA NRCS Announces Conservation Stewardship Program

[WEEKS Kevin]

This message is forwarded at the request of the Oregon office of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
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[cid:image002.jpg at 01CCBFF9.5C7894F0]               News Release
           United States Department of Agriculture * Natural Resources Conservation Service
         1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, Portland, OR 97204
                                                           www.or.nrcs.usda.gov<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\sara.magenheimer\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\sara.magenheimer\Local%20Settings\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\OLKC2\www.or.nrcs.usda.gov>


Release No.  2011.12-001

CONTACT:
Loren Unruh, State Programs Leader, (503) 414-3235, loren.unruh at or.usda.gov<mailto:loren.unruh at or.usda.gov>
Sara Magenheimer, State Public Affairs Officer, (503) 414-3250, sara.magenheimer at or.usda.gov<mailto:sara.magenheimer at or.usda.gov>
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces
Sign-Up Period for Conservation Stewardship Program
Program cut-off date is January 13, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 13, 2011) -USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)<http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html> <http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html> is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

"CSP in Oregon continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals," said Ron Alvarado, Oregon NRCS State Conservationist.  "Over the past two years, over 510 applicants enrolled in CSP, receiving financial and technical assistance to implement conservation on nearly 1.2 million acres across Oregon."

CSP is offered in all 50 states, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups. The program provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habit enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

Though specific payments to landowners will vary on a case-by-case basis, average CSP payments to Oregon landowners in 2010 and 2011 were between $9 and $12 per acre.  Landowners working to improve their operation can receive up to $40,000 a year in financial assistance for five years.

A CSP self-screening checklist<http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/csp_data/2009/CSP_Producer_Self_Screening_Checklist.pdf> <http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/csp_data/2009/CSP_Producer_Self_Screening_Checklist.pdf> is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices and on the CSP Web page.

As part of the CSP application process, applicants work with NRCS field personnel to complete the resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities.  The applicant's conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments.

In 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants across the nation enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky, to improve water and soil quality, enhance wildlife habitat and address the effects of climate change.

Visit the NRCS Oregon Web site,<http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/basindir.html> <<www.or.nrcs.usda.gov<http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov>.>> and connect with an NRCS office near you.


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Originally established by Congress in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), NRCS<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/> has expanded to become a conservation leader for all natural resources, ensuring private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges.  The NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals that result in
productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
________________________________________________________________________

NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.  20250-9410
or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at:  www.or.nrcs.usda.gov<http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov>.


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