Missouri farmers - Apply for CSP funding before deadline

By Blake Jackson

The Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that December 20, 2024, is the deadline to apply for funding under the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for Fiscal Year 2025.

Scott Edwards, the Missouri NRCS State Conservationist, shared the update, encouraging farmers and ranchers to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance conservation efforts on their land.

CSP is the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating acreage. It supports agricultural producers and forest landowners by helping them implement and manage conservation practices that improve natural resource sustainability while maintaining or enhancing their operations’ profitability. By adopting advanced conservation strategies, participants can increase productivity, reduce expenses, and contribute to environmental health.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Farm Bill, historic funding levels are now available for CSP. The IRA allocated an additional $19.5 billion over five years to support programs like CSP, enabling more producers to adopt climate-smart practices that benefit both their land and the environment.

CSP participants can engage in a range of activities, including planting cover crops, using ecologically based pest management, creating buffer strips, and developing habitats for pollinators and beneficial insects.

The program also promotes innovative approaches like precision agriculture, improved grazing systems, on-site carbon sequestration, and soil health amendments.

Key benefits of CSP include increased productivity through enhanced soil health and reduced erosion, improved water quality, reduced runoff, greater carbon sequestration, and better wildlife habitat. The program also aids organic and transitioning producers by providing targeted assistance to improve their operations.

Applications are accepted year-round, but producers must submit them by December 20 to be considered for FY25 funding.

Eligibility requires applicants to meet Farm Bill requirements, control or own eligible land, and provide an NRCS conservation plan and operation maps. Applications must be submitted to local NRCS offices by 4 p.m. on the deadline.

For more information or to find your nearest NRCS office, visit the USDA Service Center website.

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