Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Updated 06/23/2010

General Program Information

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) changed dramatically in the 2008 Farm Bill. Congress renamed and revamped the former Conservation Security Program completely to improve its availability and appeal to agricultural and forestry producers. The Conservation Stewardship Program will be offered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups with announced cut-off application dates for ranking periods. The current cut-off application date is June 25, 2010.  The maximum annual enrollment is capped at nearly 12.7 million acres nationwide.

Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed.  Participation in the program is voluntary.

The CSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by:

• Undertaking additional conservation activities; and
• Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

The NRCS will make CSP available nationwide on a continuous application basis.

The entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract that is operated substantially separate from other operations.  More information about the program can be found at the National CSP website.

Missouri Conservation Stewardship Program Geographic Areas

Missouri Conservation Stewardship Program Reference Materials

All documents below require Adobe Acrobat Reader:

Conservation Stewardship Program Application Checklist   

Resource Conserving Crops

Conservation Measurement Tool Questions

2010-2 Enhancement Activity Job Sheets
    Air (625.55 KB)
    Animal (2,818 KB)
    Energy (205.25 KB)
    Plant (1,792.94 KB)
    Soil Erosion (306.32 KB)
    Soil Quality (531.20 KB)
    Water Quality (1,888.75 KB)
    Water Quantity (477.97 KB)
   

CSP-2010 Application

Conservation Stewardship Program Applicant Documentation: Delineating the Ag Operation

Control of Land Assurance Statement

Direct Deposit Sign-up Form

Organic Crosswalk - Supplemental information for organic farmers.  Provides information on how a producer can use CSP Conservation Enhancements to aid them during the "transitioning" period to organic farming.

Missouri CSP Contact Information

National NRCS CSP Information

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