2008 Conservation Security Program - Frequently Asked Questions

Application/Eligibility

• 1. If the majority of an Agricultural Operation is border line, in or out of the approved watershed, do we measure the operation acres to the HUC line?
• 2. Can an applicant change their offer for CSP? If so, how many times will we allow them to make changes?
• 3. Since land converted to crop production after May 13, 2002 is ineligible for CSP, should it be included in an applicant's agricultural operation?
• 4. Is expired CRP land that has been converted to crop production eligible for CSP?
• 5. Can an applicant's agricultural operation meet Tier II or III requirements if the operation includes ineligible land?
• 6. If land is currently enrolled into an EQIP grazing lands health contract, is this land eligible for CSP?
• 7. If cropland is enrolled into an EQIP contract that includes structural practices, at what point is the land eligible for CSP?

Grazing Lands Eligibility Tool

• 8. How do field offices determine if a feed/forage and animal balance exists on rangeland or pasturelands that are offered for a CSP contract?

Soil and Water Eligibility Tool (SWET)

• 9. Is the grazing of crop aftermath (corn or grain sorghum stocks) to be considered in the SWET?
• 10. Should grazing winter wheat from November through March be considered in the SWET?
• 11. Question 15 of the SWET refers to perennial and intermittent streams? How do we define intermittent streams for CSP?
• 12. Question 17 of the SWET addresses the minimum setback distance of 33 ft or as required by the pesticide label. What about the use of atrazine?

Wildlife Habitat Assessment Tool

• 13. How should fields be combined into Conservation Treatment Units (CTU’s) for scoring by land use using the wildlife habitat assessment worksheets?
• 14. What is the appropriate method to assess multiple fields with variations in the quality, amount, width, and distance of Habitat Elements between the fields?
• 15. Can a Habitat Element (either Non-Crop, Non-Hay, or Non-Pasture) be applied for credit to more than one CTU?
• 16. Which option should be selected for Item # 6 Winter Food Source (Cropland Worksheet) if different management actions are used across a crop rotation?
• 17. What is the appropriate method to score Item #7 Residue or Stubble Management (Cropland Worksheet) when there are different situations applied in different years of the crop rotation? (For example, corn-beans with grazing only on corn stubble.)
• 18. How much of the field must be excluded from haying on Item # 9. Mowing (Cropland Worksheet) to meet the requirement of option "b"?
• 19. On the cropland worksheet are there two options built into option "b" for Item #9 Mowing? Is either option acceptable when applied separately?
• 20. What information can be used to interpret the options listed for Item #1 Species Composition on the Rangeland Worksheet?
• 21. How do we factor ponds into Item #4 Watering Facilities (Rangeland Worksheet)?
• 22. What types of water bodies are to be included into an assessment for lakes and ponds? Does it include man-made ponds for other purposes?
• 23. Can a final score of 0.49 be rounded up to 0.50 to make it eligible?

Enhancement Activities

• 24. Energy enhancement activity EEM47 Renewable Energy Generation - Criteria for the worksheet states "However, two renewable systems that are alike and that are providing electricity for the same facility or use, are not eligible for separate payments." A producer with multiple solar powered water pumps that are providing electricity for livestock water at separate watering facilities would only be eligible for one payment. Is that correct?
• 25. Do we need to run the wildlife habitat assessment tool for a Tier I application to be eligible to receive wildlife enhancement payments?
• 26. Can a participant receive a SCI payment on hayland and pastureland?
• 27. Is there a list of CSP enhancement activities that are considered duplicative payments to other conservation program payments?
• 28. Where can the enhancement activity EAM4f Road Dust Control Material be applied?
• 29. Air quality enhancement activity EAM4f Road Dust Control Material - The worksheet refers to dust suppressants (road oil, other liquid products, or solid emulsifiers). Do you have a list of approved products? Or is there a website available that we can go to ensure participants are using eligible dust suppressant products?
• 30. If an applicant's rotation already includes a legume crop (i.e. soybeans or alflalfa) in the rotation do they qualify for the enhancement activity ENM40a Add Legume to Crop Rotation?
• 31. If a legume crop is added to an existing rotation can it be harvested and still qualify for the ENM40a enhancement?

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Last Modified: 05/16/2008