Several weeks ago, I provided information on Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP), one of the new conservation programs authorized with the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill known as Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 as the sign-up has been extended till June 25, 2010 from the original cut-off of June 11 as the Final Rule has been completed in the Federal Register.

This program is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Cropland, pastureland and rangeland are landuses eligible for this program.

You have basicly two weeks to make an application.

First order of business is having your records upto date with the local Farm Services Agency office (FSA) in Kingsville. Since it is a five year program, an operator must get a written lease from all his landlords.

The land must be in compliance with all highly erodible and wetland requirements. All the land that you operate must be included in the application.

The CStP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities on agricultural land and nonindustrial private forest land.

Through CStP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Annual payments for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities are available if accepted.

One resource concern must be addressed at sign-up. For example, soil erosion is a resource concern identified by the state and Kleberg and Kenedy counties as being a priority on cropland.

It has to be addressed on all the farms that an operator farms when making an application. The resources have to be inventoried on the land to determine existing activities and activities that may be needed in the future.

As part of the CStP application process, you’ll work with NRCS field personnel to complete your resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT).

The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and additional conservation activities

If an operator is interested, check out the NRCS website at www. tx.nrcs.usda.gov under programs (Conservation Stewardship Program) to review all the requirements and information on the various enhancements that are eligible. Again you have until June 25 to apply with all eligibility requirements satisfied including lease agreements.

While CStP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, only applications received by this date will be considered for funding in fiscal year 2010.

For more detailed information about CStP including eligibility requirements, come by the local NRCS office at 401 E. King Suite 100 in Kingsville or call 592-0309 Ext: 3.