Slide 1

CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM (CSP)

Farm Security and RuralInvestment Act of 2002

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Slide 2

Program Philosophy

• Reward the best, motivate the rest

• Not a cost-share program to apply practices

• A conservation planning program to address natural resource concerns

Slide 3

CSP Key Points

• Awaiting proposed rule release

• Most widely known program acronym

• Excellent marketing tool

Slide 4

CSP Key Points

• Supports ongoing conservation stewardship on working lands

• Rewards producers who meet highest conservation standards

• Creates incentives for others to achieve those same standards

Slide 5

CSP Key Points

• $3.7 billion authorization 2003-2013

• < 5 percent of eligible producers will be enrolled due to authorized funding levels

• Law limits <15 percent of program funding for CTA

Slide 6

CSP Key Points

• Program realities

• RMS planning emphasis

• Program infancy

Slide 7

CSP Payments – One or More Components

• Annual base component for benchmark treatment

• Annual existing practice component for maintaining existing practices

• One-time new practice payment• Enhancement component for going

further than quality criteria

Slide 8

Potential Sign-up Scenario

• NRCS determines criteria

• NRCS announces program and criteria

• Producer self-screening and inventory

• Producer application

Slide 9

Potential Sign-up Scenario

• NRCS determines eligibility

• NRCS determines tier

• NRCS determines offers based on announcement priorities