Virginia Farmers Approved for New USDA Program

Richmond, VA, August 15, 2005- M. Denise Doetzer, Virginia State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that 207 farmers signed up for the new Conservation Security Program with contracts totaling $1.3 million.  Virginia has already received $927,000 dollars in CSP funds for new contracts. USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced on Monday, July 25 that $145 million in new contracts are being offered to some 12,700 farmers and ranchers across the country.

This is the first year agricultural producers in all 50 states in 220 watershed locations were given an opportunity to participate in the program. Congress provided $202 million to cover the new contracts as well as those signed in 2004.

Thousands of Virginia farmers are committed to doing the hard day-to-day work of making the right choices for the land and other natural resources that they manage. They don’t boast about it and they don’t often get much recognition, but CSP is a step towards rewarding the work they do,” Doetzer said. “Furthermore, these proven stewards are good candidates for our nation to invest in to further improve the resources that sustain our families, our communities and our landscapes.”

Of the 220 participating watersheds three were in Virginia. They were: the Mattaponi Watershed in Caroline, King and Queen, King William, Spotsylvania and Orange Counties; the Lower Rappahannock Watershed in Essex, Westmoreland, Middlesex, Lancaster, Caroline, King George, Richmond, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties; and the South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed in Warren, Page, Rockingham and Augusta Counties.

Payments are based on a tier system, with Tier III recognizing the highest level of conservation. Contracts will run for 5-10 years. Typical conservation practices include pest and nutrient management, crop rotations, contour and conservation tillage, wildlife habitat improvements, stream bank stabilization and enhancements.

CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America’s natural resources. For more information on CSP  see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/. 

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