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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>This message is forwarded at the request of the Oregon office of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kevin Weeks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oregon Department of Forestry<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*******************************************************<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=160 height=74 src="cid:image002.jpg@01CCBFF9.5C7894F0" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK4"></a> <span style='font-size:32.0pt'> </span><b><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:-.2pt'>N<span style='text-transform:uppercase'>ews Release</span></span></b><span style='font-size:32.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>United States Department of Agriculture · Natural Resources Conservation Service<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900, Portland, OR 97204 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><a href="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"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.or.nrcs.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;z-index:1' from="-.95pt,3.2pt" to="476.05pt,3.2pt" /><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:1;left:-2px;top:3px;width:638px;height:5px'><img width=638 height=2 src="cid:image005.png@01CCBFF9.5C441770" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></span><![endif]><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";text-transform:uppercase'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Release No. 2011.12-001 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Loren Unruh, State Programs Leader, (503) 414-3235, </span><a href="mailto:loren.unruh@or.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>loren.unruh@or.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Sara Magenheimer, State Public Affairs Officer, (503) 414-3250, </span><a href="mailto:sara.magenheimer@or.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>sara.magenheimer@or.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Sign-Up Period for Conservation Stewardship Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"'>Program cut-off date is January 13, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>PORTLAND, Ore.</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <span style='color:black'>(Dec. 13, 2011) </span>—USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html">Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)</a> <span style='color:#1F497D'><<a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html">http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html</a>> </span>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.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A <a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/csp_data/2009/CSP_Producer_Self_Screening_Checklist.pdf">CSP self-screening checklist</a><span style='color:#1F497D'> <<a href="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</a>></span> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Visit the </span><a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/basindir.html"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>NRCS Oregon Web site,</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <span style='color:#1F497D'><<</span></span><a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.or.nrcs.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.>> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>and connect with an NRCS office near you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Originally established by Congress in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), </span></i><a href="http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NRCS</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 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 </span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>productive lands and healthy ecosystems.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>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, </span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at: </span></i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><a href="http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov"><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.or.nrcs.usda.gov</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>