What's Up at the USDA Office?
Deadlines/Dates
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application
September 30: Office Fiscal Year Rollover
Funding Available for New Waterways and the Repair of Existing Waterways
Producers interested in putting in new waterways or repairing waterways affected by storm damage are encouraged to come into the Waukon NRCS office and ask about funding opportunities through federal and state programs. Waterways are a great conservation tool to help limit soil erosion and nutrient runoff and the local NRCS office can assist you with technical assistance and waterway design, in addition to cost share. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship offers 50% cost share on waterways and a few other conservation practices with continuous year-round applications. NRCS and FSA also have 50% waterway cost share through the CRP program in addition to offering a rental rate for the covered acres and a 50% practice incentive payment. The CRP deadline for this year has passed but feel free to come talk to us if you are interested in future years. CRP also has more stringent management requirements and limits haying and grazing.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Another program offered through the NRCS is the Conservation Stewardship Program. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is sometimes misunderstood. It is perceived by some as complicated or not for small operations, and neither of those perceptions is true. CSP is designed to help you take your existing conservation efforts on your operation to the next higher level while maintaining your current ones. It’s supposed to help you add to what you’re already doing, either by enhancing your current practices or adding new ones. Under CSP, you receive annual payments to help you maintain your existing conservation efforts and enhance them using new conservation practices or activities. CSP contracts last five years, with the opportunity to compete for a contract renewal if you successfully fulfill the initial contract and agree to achieve additional conservation objectives.
CSP Myths
CSP is often misunderstood, so here are a few “myths” about the program that we want to dispel.
Myth #1: The deadline to apply for CSP in my state has already passed, so I don’t need to think about applying until next year.
Don’t wait to apply! We accept applications year-round.
Myth #2: Enrolling land in CSP is complicated and time-consuming.
If you have a farm and tract number (available from USDA’s Farm Service Agency) and have kept good farm records, you’re already well on your way. You just need to complete a three-page form. You can even complete this form online if you create a farmers.gov account at https://www.farmers.gov/account.
