The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to accept applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to help producers build on existing conservation efforts to increase operational efficiencies and environmental benefits as well as reduce overall input costs. This year, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding provides additional financial opportunities for select conservation practices and enhancements to increase direct climate mitigation benefits. The deadline to receive fiscal year 2024 funding for both CSP-Classic and CSP-IRA is April 5, 2024.
Ohio NRCS has increased the minimum annual payment for CSP participants from $1,500 to $4,000 starting in 2024. The increase addresses challenges faced by small scale, underserved, and urban producers and improves equity in the program by making participation more financially beneficial for smaller operations. The new minimum payment is available for new and renewed CSP contracts.
Producers and landowners can take advantage of the ACT NOW process, which immediately selects applications for funding when the application meets or exceeds a state-determined minimum ranking score. Applicants will experience a targeted, rapid streamlined application and contract approval process.
Newly added are opportunities to compete for funding in ranking pools that follow a more traditional timeline. Funding decisions in these pools are made after an established ranking deadline so that selections can be made in order of ranking score.
“CSP is a great opportunity for Ohio producers and landowners to expand their existing stewardship and management,” Ohio State Conservationist John Wilson said. “Increasing the minimum annual payment has generated a lot of interest this year, and it’s great to see our customer base expanding!”
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Categories: Ohio, Business, Government & Policy