Qualified producers may sign up for Conservation Security Program

Farmers and ranchers having a majority of their land in the Little River Ditches Watershed in Southeastern Missouri and northern Arkansas may now signup for the Conservation Security Program. However, they must first complete self-assessment workbooks which are available at the USDA service center on the North By-Pass in Kennett, or online at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

The program rewards crop and livestock producers who already are applying conservation measures on their land.

The Little River Ditches watershed is the only eligible watershed in Missouri and is one of only 18 designated in the U.S. The watershed is located in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, New Madrid,Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard counties in Missouri and Craighead, Mississippi and Poinsett counties in Arkansas.

During the 2004 fiscal year, the CSP budget of $41.4 million will allow the National Resource Conservation Service to write between 3,000 and 5,000 contracts ranging from five to 10 years. Eligibility is based upon a three-tier system.

Under tier one, eligible producers must have completed conservaton measures relating to water and soil quality on part of their land. Under tier two, the measures must cover the entire farming operation and producers must agree to address at least one other resource concern. Under tier three, all natural resource concerns must be addressed for the entire farming operation, with the producer agreeing to complete additional activities.

There are maximum annual payment limits established for each tier. Cost-share funds also are available for producers wanting to implement additional conservation measures that would make them eligible for a higher tier.

"Any rewards that producers receive for their conservation efforts will be well deserved," said Roger Hansen, Missouri state conservationist.

He say producers must first determine whether their land is within the Little River Ditches Watershed. The local NRCS offices can help determine if the property is in the watershed.

The next step would be for the producer to get a copy of the self-assessment workbook.

"The workbook serves two purposes," Hansen said. "First of all, if producers are not eligible for CSP, the workbook will help them determine that early on, so they don't waste a lot of time going through the rest of the application process. Secondly, by completing the workbook, producers might learn about other conservation programs, practices and funding that they can use to preserve, protect and enhance natural resources."

He added, "We hope that the result is that the next time a CSP sign up comes to their watershed, that they will have done what is necessary to make their operations eligible."

Producers who complete the workbook and believe that they are eligible for CSP should contact their local NRCS officials, who will help producers through the application process.

The NRCS office in Kennett is located in the USDA Service Center, 704 North By-Pass. The telephone number is (573) 888-2536.