The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for applications to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Farmers and ranchers interested in enrolling in CSP now have until February 7 to submit their initial applications to NRCS.

The original deadline was January 17, which gives producers an extra three weeks to get into their local NRCS office and submit the initial application to enroll.

NSAC has issued an Information Alert (PDF) with information on the timeline and process for applying to enroll in CSP, including application ranking criteria and other helpful information.

About the Conservation Stewardship Program

CSP is an innovative working lands conservation program that rewards farmers and ranchers for the conservation and environmental benefits they produce.  In the first five enrollment years for CSP (2009-2013), approximately 46,000 farmers and ranchers have enrolled nearly 60 million acres of farm and ranch land.  That land is now under five-year, renewable CSP conservation contracts valued at $804 million a year.

NSAC periodically analyzes and provides information on CSP participation and recently NSAC published a series of posts analyzing trends in CSP use across the country, looking at total enrollment, land management, and participation by beginning, socially disadvantaged, organic, and transitioning-to-organic producers from 2009-2012.

In addition to the newly released Information Alert, producers will find more detailed information about CSP on NSAC’s website and in NSAC’s Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program, available for free download here (PDF).