CSP sign-up, good for producer, good for the land, wildlife, water, local economy

Sign-up will be April 18 through May 16, 2008

Landowners and operators in the Coon-Pickerel Watershed that covers parts of 10 counties (Barton, Edwards, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Rice, Rush, and Stafford) in southcentral Kansas can take part in the 2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign-up April 18 through May 16 at local NRCS offices. Counties in three other watersheds shared with Kansas and an adjoining state are also included in the sign-up: Upper Arkansas-John Martin in Greeley and Hamilton counties along the Colorado border; Lower Missouri-Crooked in Wyandotte, Johnson, and Miami counties along the Missouri border; and Middle Republican in Phillips, Smith, Jewell, and Republic counties along the Nebraska border. The NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The sign-up was announced March 19 by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.

"Public meetings will be held in the four watersheds before the sign-up period begins," said Astor F. Boozer, Acting State Conservationist for the NRCS in Kansas. "Producers at their convenience are free to attend any informational meeting within their watershed."

Coon-Pickerel Watershed

Middle Republican (Nebraska-Kansas)

Upper Arkansas-John Martin (Colorado-Kansas)

For meeting times, call:

• Arthur Boltz, District Conservationist, NRCS, Syracuse, KS—620-384-6955
• Kevin Nelson, District Conservationist, NRCS, Tribune, KS—620-376-4332

Lower Missouri-Crooked (Missouri-Kansas)

"Since the 2008 CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook needs to be completed to apply, I encourage producers to learn about the program early," said Boozer.

To apply for the CSP, potential participants need to complete the 2008 CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook—available on the Web or at the public informational meetings—to find out if their operation meets the requirements of the program and qualifies for program participation. The self-assessment process uses a self-screening questionnaire for each land use—cropland, grazing land, irrigated land and wildlife—to be enrolled. When completed, the producer submits the 2008 CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook to the local NRCS office during the sign-up period and meets with the NRCS personnel to go over any additional needed documentation. The NRCS will then determine if eligibility requirements are met and provide options for the producer's decision on enrollment category placement.

The CSP is a voluntary program that seeks out producers who are already applying conservation practices on their land. It works with all landowners to reward them for their good stewardship and provides incentives to move to the next level of natural resource conservation.

Information on the CSP, including eligible U.S. watersheds and the 2008 CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook is available on the national NRCS CSP Web site.

Producers can determine if they are in or out of the watershed by viewing a detailed county map on the Kansas 2008 CSP Web site. Other information and the 2008 CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook are also available on the Kansas Web site.

Check with your local county NRCS office or conservation district staff in the eligible watershed to learn more about signing up for the CSP. The office is located at your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government).

Last Modified: 03/28/2008