USDA announces priority watersheds for 2004 sign-up in the Conservation Security Program

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the priority watersheds that will be used in the fiscal year 2004 Conservation Security Program sign-up to be held this summer. On May 4, 2004, USDA announced the process that would be used to select these watersheds.

"This voluntary program supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America's natural resources," Veneman said. "USDA intends to offer a signup for this program this summer."

The Little River Ditches watershed was selected in Arkansas.

In order to implement CSP this fiscal year, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will begin to train employees within the priority watersheds immediately on the basics of the program; detailed training will occur once the interim final rule is published in early summer. A sign-up announcement will be published along with the interim final rule that will detail the specific program requirements within the priority watersheds.

The U.S. Congress capped the fiscal year 2004 CSP budget at $41.4 million. This funding allows NRCS to write 3,000 to 5,000 contracts. Due to that limit on funding, USDA chose to offer the program in selected, priority watersheds.

All CSP applications that meet the sign-up criteria will be placed in an enrollment category regardless of available funding. In addition to legal contract requirements, the categories will consider the applicants' current stewardship (soil condition, tillage intensity, existing practices and activities) and will sort producers based on these factors. Categories also will examine producers' willingness to perform additional conservation activities during their CSP contract.