CRESTVIEW —Agricultural producers can now sign up for funding available through the Conservation Stewardship Program, which helps improve the health and productivity of private and tribal working lands.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service plans to add an estimated 10 million acres to the CSP rolls during fiscal 2016.
NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers should submit applications by March 31 to USDA service centers to be considered for enrollment in 2016. Participants with existing CSP contracts expiring Dec. 31 may renew them for five more years if they agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher conservation levels. Applications to renew are also due by March 31.
In Florida, producers can participate through CSP in the regional landscape-level Longleaf Pine Initiative.
Funding is available for more than 100 kinds of enhancements to help participants:
•Improve soil quality through use of cover crops, conservation crop rotations and other activities that increase soil productivity.
•Use water wisely and improve water quality through enhancements such as more efficient irrigation systems and weather monitoring.
•Restore habitat for wildlife and pollinators such as the greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie-chicken and monarch butterfly through the use of better grazing systems and improved plant management.
For more on technical and financial assistance available, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or contact the Crestview NRCS office at 938 Ferdon Blvd. N., 682-3714, extension 3.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Conservation funding available for Northwest Florida agricultural producers