Conservation Security Program Information Meetings Scheduled

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will begin offering local informational meetings about the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in the selected Kansas 2005 watersheds in March 2005.  Meetings are now scheduled as listed below with meetings in some watersheds still to be announced.

"Signup for CSP is expected later this winter," said Klaege. "We are holding these informational meetings to more fully explain CSP to interested landowners and participants," said Harold Klaege, NRCS State Conservationist, Salina.

"As additional meeting dates are being set in the selected watersheds, they will be posted on the Kansas NRCS web site," said Klaege.

"Or, if your county is listed as being in a selected watershed, contact the local district conservationist by telephone or email to find out the informational meeting dates," he said.

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America’s natural resources.

The CSP provides payments to eligible producers who maintain and enhance their natural resources.  Depending on the amount of conservation now on the land, producers may be eligible for one of three tiered payments.

The tiered payments are:

• Tier 1 - soil and water concerns addressed on part of the farm operation may qualify for up to $20,000 for a 5-year contract;
• Tier 2 - soil and water concerns addressed on the entire ag operation may qualify for up to $35,000 for a 5- to 10-year contract; and
• Tier 3 - those landowners who have all their natural resource concerns addressed on the entire ag operation may qualify for up to $45,000 for a 5- to 10-year contract.

2005 Kansas Conservation Security Program Information Meetings

• Arikaree Watershed
• Delaware Watershed
• Lower Big Blue Watershed
• Middle Arkansas - Lake McKinney Watershed
• North Fork Ninnescah Watershed
• Upper South Fork Solomon Watershed
• Upper Walnut Watershed