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Keys to Qualifying for the Iowa CSPUSDA selected 51 watersheds across the United States as eligible for enrollment in the 2007 Conservation Security Program (CSP). The Middle Iowa, in the east central part of the state, was the only watershed selected in Iowa. The announcement, made in late September, covers nearly 24 million acres of cropland and grazing land. The final list of CSP watersheds to participate in the 2007 sign-up will be determined once Congress finalizes the agricultural appropriation. If the appropriated funding level drops below the Administration’s budget request, the number of CSP watersheds selected for sign-up may be reduced. The Middle Iowa watershed encompasses a little over one million acres and includes parts of Grundy, Story, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Linn, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa and Johnson counties. There are 2,781 farms in the watershed, which also includes the Meskwaki Indian settlement. This is a 7,000-acre tribally-owned settlement with a population of about 580. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) began offering CSP to landowners and farmers in fiscal year 2004. CSP is a voluntary program that rewards farmers for putting conservation practices on their land. Currently there are 280 watersheds in the CSP nationwide covering about 224 million acres. Can you qualify for CSP?Rick Van Klaveren, NRCS State Conservationist, is pleased eligible watersheds were announced early this fall. “This early announcement,” Van Klaveren said, “will allow farmers more time to gather resource information on their farming operations in preparation for a prospective sign-up. It also provides them a heads-up before making harvest and post-harvest land management decisions which may impact CSP eligibility.” The specific rules for the 2007 CSP sign up have not yet been announced. Larry Beeler, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Programs) urges farmers to start talking now with their local NRCS office. “This can give you a good idea of what’s required for eligibility,” said Beeler. “To get into CSP, you must be a good steward of the land and continue to practice and maintain soil and water conservation on your farm.” Beeler adds, “You need to use minimum tillage or, better yet, no-till on your ground and be concerned with soil quality.” Beeler encourages Middle Iowa watershed farmers interested in the 2007 CSP sign-up to look at the 2006 CSP workbook (http://csp.sc.egov.usda.gov/). He says it shows producers what practices were important for 2006 CSP participation and it will give Middle Iowa watershed farmers an idea of what is required for basic eligibility for 2007 CSP participation. Do the planning nowJim Andrew, a Jefferson county farmer in west central Iowa, is an outspoken supporter of no-till and other soil saving practices. He is very familiar with what it takes to meet CSP requirements. In 2005, Andrew’s corn-soybean rotation and conservation practices helped his application qualify at the Tier III, Category A level in the 2005 CSP. What does he recommend to farmers who want to qualify their working lands for CSP? “Go to your NRCS office and get the CSP workbook,” said Andrew. “Or get the workbook from the NRCS website. The workbook gives a good idea of what you must do to participate in CSP.” He suggests farmers do some planning in the fall and take steps to prepare and make their farms eligible. Some of the steps Andrew suggests include: 1. Do what it takes to meet soil fertility requirements. Are your soil tests up to date? If not, get the soil sampled and tested. “Your soil must have been tested within the past four years if you want the fields to qualify for CSP,” said Andrew. 2. Start thinking about the rate of nitrogen applied in the past. Look at what is planned for spring 2007. “You’ll likely want to cut back some so you don’t over-fertilize,” he says. 3. Look at your ground and how you farm it. How can you improve it from a conservation aspect? “Put buffer strips around creeks,” Andrew says. “Do everything else you can this fall after the crop is harvested to put your ground in better condition to be accepted into CSP.” USDA makes the CSP available in new watersheds annually on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows. CSP was first authorized by Congress in the 2002 Farm Bill. CSP applicants participate in the program on three different levels reflecting both their documented historical conservation management as well as their agreement to do additional environmental enhancements. CSP contract payments are capped by law at $20,000 for Tier I and $35,000 and $45,000 for Tier II and III respectively. Currently there are 2,300 active CSP contracts in Iowa. --30-- Resources on the web:2006 Self Assessment Workbook:
http://csp.sc.egov.usda.gov/ Side bar:Preparing for CSPNRCS officials urge non-CSP watershed farmers to continue their conservation efforts and learn more about the CSP program. “You never know when CSP may be coming to your watershed,” says Larry Beeler, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Programs). “To qualify for CSP, NRCS asks farmers to apply and maintain soil conservation practices on your farm. This includes using conservation tillage and stream bank protection practices, cover crops, nutrient and pesticide management and enhancing wildlife habitat.” |
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