|
 NRCS has partnered with the Illinois Corn Growers Association to
help producers address resource concerns such as water quality
and soil health. Producers can apply for assistance through the
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which will build on their
existing conservation efforts while strengthening their
operation through special conservation activities that are
offered. The NRCS Precision Conservation Management RCPP project
will be available to producers whose land is located in the
following counties: Champaign, Christian, Douglas, Edgar, Ford,
Livingston, Macoupin, McLean, Sangamon, Tazewell, Vermillion,
and Woodford.
Financial assistance will be available to eligible producers
whose land is located in the above-mentioned counties. While
applications are accepted throughout the year, interested
producers should submit a signed application (NRCS-CPA-1200
form) to the local NRCS field office, or submit the form through
the Farmers.gov website using their account, by the cutoff date
of May 7, 2021, to ensure their applications are considered for
2021 funding. A blank NRCS-CPA-1200 application form may be
obtained from the local office or on the Illinois NRCS website.
Producers wishing to use Farmers.gov, can sign in or create an
account by clicking on “Sign up” in the upper right of the
website.
To see if you are eligible to participate in the program,
producers should contact their local NRCS field office or visit
the Illinois NRCS website at
www.il.nrcs.usda.gov .
Submit Illinois CSP Applications for 2021
State Conservationist, Ivan Dozier announced the submission
deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications
to be considered for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2021 is May 7,
2021. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans
to invest up to $7.85 million for new CSP contracts in fiscal
year 2021 in Illinois.
CSP is a financial assistance conservation program which helps
agricultural and forestland producers take the conservation
activities on their farm to the next level. “CSP continues to be
a very effective tool for producers working to achieve their
conservation and management goals,” said Ivan Dozier, NRCS State
Conservationist in Illinois.
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While applications are accepted throughout the year,
interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS
office by
May 7, 2021, to ensure their applications are considered for 2021
funding.
CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields,
decreased input costs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased
resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including
cropland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forest land. CSP
assists agricultural and forestland producers build on existing
conservation efforts while strengthening their entire operation.
Producers interested in CSP should submit an application
(NRCS-CPA-1200 form) to the local NRCS field office or through the
Farmers.gov website using their account. A blank NRCS-CPA-1200
application form may be obtained from the local office or on the
Illinois NRCS website. Producers wishing to use Farmers.gov, can
sign in or create an account by clicking on “Sign up” in the upper
right of the website.
CSP applications submitted by May 7, 2021 will be evaluated by the
local NRCS field office staff. NRCS staff will work with applicants
to assess their land and resource concerns, answer ranking
questions, and determine program eligibility. If an application is
ranked high enough to be funded, NRCS staff will work with the
applicant to develop a contract.
For additional information about CSP, contact your local USDA
service center or visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/
nrcs/il/programs/financial/csp/.
[Paige Buck
Public Affairs Officer
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service] |
