CSP — Conservation Stewardship Program

What this actually is

ANNUAL PAYMENTS across your whole operation for stewardship — it pays partly for what you already do, not only for new construction, which makes it different from EQIP. Minimum $4,000 annual payment for most participants in any year the total falls below it. Contract cap $200,000 over the term, $400,000 for a joint operation. Cover crop activities are paid at not less than 125% of the annual amount; resource-conserving crop rotation and advanced grazing carry supplemental payments at not less than 150%.

Who qualifies, and what trips people up

Five-year contract, renewable once in year five — to renew you must agree to address two additional priority resource concerns or reach higher levels on two existing ones. Continuous application, funded at state ranking dates. 7 CFR Part 1470.