Farm Bill Programs:
Conservation Stewardship Program
Purpose of Program
- The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to producers who practice good stewardship on their agricultural lands and incentives for addressing additional resource concerns.
Eligibility
- Eligible land includes private and tribal land on which agricultural commodities, livestock, or forest-related products are produced plus associated land on which priority resource concerns could also be addressed.
- Ineligible land includes animal waste storage or treatment facilities.
- Eligible land must meet the stewardship threshold for two USDA identified resource concerns and achieve the threshold for an additional priority resource concern by the end of the 5 year contract.
- Applications are ranked on present and proposed conservation activities, number and extent of resource concerns addressed, cost effectiveness of expected environmental benefits and extent to which resource concerns are addressed if transitioning from CRP to grass based or other agricultural production.
Contract Period and Cost-Share
- Contract Period - 5 years with option to renew for another 5 years.
- Program payment cap of $200,000 per five years per person or legal entity.
- Payments cover planning, installation, improvement and maintenance of conservation activities, forgone income, and expected environmental benefits.
Application Process
- CSP is run by NRCS.
- Applications can be filed year round at local NRCS/USDA Service Centers and Conservation District Offices. See link to office sites below.
For more information contact:
Will Newman, Farm Bill Coordinator
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
(254) 718-7684
William.Newman@tpwd.texas.gov
Additional Links:
- Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) - Contact information from the US Dept. of Agriculture Service Center Locator for Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies.
- Texas State Water and Soil Conservation Board - Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts Locator Map and information