Farmers Approved for Conservation Security Program

RICHMOND, June 7, 2006-- Fifteen exemplary farmers in the North Fork of the Shenandoah Watershed are receiving recognition for their outstanding conservation efforts. These farmers have been applying conservation practices on their land to protect water quality, reduce erosion and benefit wildlife habitat, largely at their own expense—until today.  Now, these farmers will be financially rewarded for their work through the Conservation Security Program (CSP).  These conservationists are receiving contract offers totaling $90,000 in FY 2006 and a projected $557,000 over the life of their contracts. Contracts range from five to 10 years in length.  

Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CSP is a voluntary conservation program that rewards farmers for their ongoing stewardship of natural resources.  CSP encourages producers to further conserve and improve soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life. CSP creates powerful incentives for other producers to meet those same standards of conservation performance.

“CSP is one of the many ways that we put conservation on the ground,” said NRCS District Conservationist Bill Patterson.  “The benefits of the conservation work that Virginia farmers are doing will improve their operations and increase the quality of our natural resources not only in the Shenandoah Valley, but also in the Chesapeake Bay.”

This is the second time CSP is being offered to farmers in selected Virginia watersheds.  The North Fork of the Shenandoah Watershed includes parts of Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren and Frederick Counties. Last year, farmers in the South Fork of the Shenandoah, the Lower Rappahannock and the Mattaponi watersheds were eligible for CSP participation. CSP will be available each year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.

Nationwide, more than 4,000 contracts are being offered to farmers totaling $50 million in FY 2006. They cover more than 3.7 million acres of private land in 60 watersheds.  FY 2006 contracts offered translate into a nearly $440 million long-term investment in conservation over the next 10 years.

For more information, click on Virginia Conservation Security Program.

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