Tennessee announces Conservation Stewardship Program 30-day deadline extension
NASHVILLE, August 11, 2023 – Natural Resource Conservation Service – Tennessee has announced an extension to the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic and Inflation Reduction Act application deadline. Tennessee agricultural producers who wish to be considered for the current fiscal year funding should apply by Monday, September 11, 2023.
Through CSP, Natural Resource Conservation Service helps farmers and ranchers earn payments for maintaining their current level of conservation across their entire operation. CSP provides the opportunity to expand their conservation activities by adopting new technologies and management techniques. The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forestland, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe. Farmsteads and other associated agricultural lands are also included. CSP also provides specific support for organic and transitioning to organic producers.
CSP is a program made for farm operators. To be eligible, contract participants must meet Farm Bill Program eligibility in conjunction with the Farm Service Agency, including meeting the highly erodible land and wetland compliance requirements and the adjusted gross income limits.
The application deadline is September 11, 2023, however through the streamlined application and contract approval approach, applications will be assessed and ranked as they are submitted to local USDA Service Centers. NRCS Tennessee will be utilizing an ACT NOW approach. Based on the availability of funds, applications with a score greater than one point will be preapproved once assessed and ranked until funds have been expelled.
Interested producers looking to increase their level of conservation across their operation can apply for CSP at their local USDA Service Center.
Please visit the NRCS Tennessee website here.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.
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