The USDA released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), making updates to the program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and input from agricultural producers.
The final rule aligns CSP with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through common applications, contracting operations and related administrative procedures.
The changes include increased payment rates for cover crop rotation, new supplemental payment for advanced grazing management, and a one-time payment for developing a comprehensive conservation plan. Additionally, existing CSP participants may have an opportunity to renew their contracts in the first half of the fifth year of their five-year contract.
