NEW CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP SIGN-UP DEADLINE NEAR

September 22, 2009

For More Information:
Carrie Mosley, 406-587-6967

Bozeman--The deadline for submitting applications for the new Conservation Stewardship Program is Wednesday, September 30. Joyce Swartzendruber, Montana NRCS State Conservationist, says, “Montana producers have a great opportunity to be supported for existing conservation and rewarded for new conservation on their working farmland, including pasture, cropland and nonindustrial forest. But the sign-up deadline is very near.” Thirteen million acres of land nationally is eligible for this exciting stewardship program, nearly 645,000 acres in Montana.

“This is a great opportunity for Montana producers to enhance conservation activities,” says Steve Hedstrom, President of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, “This is an important new opportunity for Montana that benefits our land and the producers who participate.” Congress, in the 2008 Farm Bill, renamed and revamped the former Conservation Security Program completely to improve its availability and appeal to producers.

Producers are advised to be sure to provide documentation that the land records are on file in the Farm Service Agency System. A self-screening list is available on the Internet at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html and on the Montana NRCS Web site under the Programs link at www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov. 

This is the first sign-up for this new program, and producers who apply now will probably face the least competition for participation approval. Wednesday, September 30, just a few days away, is the deadline for producers to sign up to protect the land and employ good conservation practices, supporting a win-win conservation outcome for the producers’ benefit and the public benefit.

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