Upper White-Village Watershed Tentatively Selected for 2007 Conservation Security Program

 WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the Upper White-Village Watershed in northeast Arkansas is eligible to be selected for the 2007 Conservation Security Program (CSP) through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Upper White-Village Watershed includes portions of Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, White and Woodruff counties.

“I am glad to see the Upper White-Village watershed eligible to be selected for CSP 2007,” said Kalven L. Trice, state conservationist. “I look forward to more watersheds in Arkansas being in CSP and hope that all landowners are preparing for CSP to come to their watershed.”

If President Bush’s requested funding level for the program for fiscal year 2007 is approved, 51 watersheds would be eligible for enrollment in 50 states, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean Area. These watersheds represent more than 64,500 of the nation's potentially eligible farms and ranches, covering nearly 24 million acres of cropland and grazing land.

Watersheds eligible for selection are being announced now to allow farmers and ranchers adequate time to gather resource information on their operations in preparation for a prospective sign-up. Just because a watershed is on the 2007 eligible CSP watershed list does not mean the watershed will participate in the 2007 CSP sign-up.

 The final list of selected CSP watersheds that will participate in the 2007 sign-up will be determined after Congress finalizes the agriculture appropriation. If the appropriated funding levels drop below the Administration’s budget request, the number of CSP watersheds selected for sign-up will be fewer than the number of eligible CSP watersheds.

 "This is the fourth year the Conservation Security Program has recognized farmers and ranchers for their ongoing stewardship on working agricultural lands," Johanns said. "Our investment in this voluntary program has already proved beneficial by creating many successful cooperative public-private partnerships across the nation."

 USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service began CSP in fiscal year 2004. Currently, there are 280 watersheds in CSP nationwide, covering nearly 224 million acres

 CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship on private agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of the nation's natural resources. Under this program, USDA rewards producers who practice good stewardship on agricultural lands and offers incentives to increase conservation practices.

 A list of the eligible watersheds can be viewed at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/2007_CSP_WS.html. USDA offers CSP in new watersheds annually on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.

 For more information about CSP, including a map of the fiscal year 2007 watersheds and eligibility requirements, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.

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