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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Contact:  Jody Fagan, 208.685.6978


CONSERVATION PROGRAM DEADLINE LOOMING

Boise, ID - Only days remain in the 2005 sign-up for the new Conservation Security Program (CSP).

CSP, created in the 2002 Farm Bill, is a voluntary program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards those producers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation on their operations. This year, the program is open to farmers and ranchers in 15 Idaho watersheds from March 28 to May 27.

This year’s watersheds are located near Bonners Ferry, Kooskia, Grangeville, Cascade, Mountain Home, Arco, St. Anthony and Salmon. Producers in the 2005 watersheds may not see another CSP sign-up for eight years.

“It’s taking some producers four or more hours to work through the sign-up process, depending on their record-keeping,” says Richard Sims, NRCS state conservationist for Idaho. “If producers show up the last couple days of the sign-up, we may not have enough time to work through their application.”

To be eligible for CSP, producers need to:

  • Operate the majority of their land in a selected watershed.
  • Promote soil and water quality through nutrient, grazing residue, pest and/or irrigation water management practices (where applicable).
  • Keep written records to better manage their operation (two years of records are needed for application).
  • Enhance wildlife habitat or additional resources on their property.

For more information on CSP, producers can contact their local NRCS service center (contacts and numbers listed below), or visit www.id.nrcs.usda.gov .

Bonners Ferry:  Mike Gondek, District Conservationist, (208) 267-3340, x102

Grangeville:  Richard Spencer, District Conservationist, (208) 983-1046, x109

Cascade:  Keith Griswold, District Conservationist, (208) 382-3317

Weiser:  Tom Yankey, District Conservationist, (208) 549-4280

Bruneau/Mountain Home/Glenns Ferry:  Skip Vetten, District Conservationist, (208) 888-1890, x112

Arco:  Steve Cote, District Conservationist, (208) 527-8557, x105

St. Anthony:  Ken Beckmann, District Conservationist, (208) 624-3341, x102

Salmon:  Barry Albert, District Conservationist, (208) 756-3211, x102


USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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