Texas Farmers and Ranchers Receive Landowner Incentives for Historical Conservation Efforts

TEMPLE, TEXAS 2005—On Thursday, September 1, 2005, Dr. Larry D. Butler, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas announced that 84 Texas farmers/ranchers will receive over $2 million in payments for new contracts in the Conservation Security Program (CSP). The 2005 CSP contracts were awarded in 14 watersheds in Texas, covering almost 400,000 acres of land.

Nationwide, NRCS offered 12,700 CSP contracts to farmers in 220 watersheds. These Fiscal Year 2005 contracts being offered translate into more than a $1 billion long-term commitment to conservation over the next 10 years on 9 million acres of private lands. CSP is a landowner incentive program authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill.

While CSP was offered on a limited basis last summer, this is the first year agricultural producers in all 50 states in 220 watershed locations were given an opportunity to participate in the program. USDA expects to fully invest the $202 million provided by Congress in covering the new contracts as well as those signed in 2004.

Unlike most federal farm conservation programs that are designed to address resource problems, CSP is designed to recognize those farmers and ranchers who have already applied a full conservation system that addresses soil quality and water quality to meet program criteria. The bulk of the CSP contract payment; however, is based on agreements to further enhance these and other resources including wildlife habitat, energy conservation, and air quality.

“Thousands of Texas farmers and ranchers 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,” Butler 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.”

CSP applicants participate in the program in five different categories and three tiers reflecting both their documented historical conservation management as well as their agreement to do additional environmental enhancements. In Texas, 51 applicants were approved in category A and 33 in category B. Of the 84 approved applicants, 29 were approved at Tier I, 11 at Tier II, and 44 at Tier III. Category A and Tier III recognizes the highest level of conservation.

“CSP is a logical companion to the other NRCS programs to help more people get to the point where we are,” states Joseph Fitzsimons, co-owner and manager of the San Pedro Ranch near Carrizo Springs. “We have been at this for 30 years. At some point, when people have demonstrated commitment and longevity to conservation, it makes sense to trust their decision making abilities. That’s what CSP does.”

The Fitzsimons’ innovation in conservation stewardship management helped them qualify as a Category A, Tier III participant in the CSP, which exemplifies their historical commitment to conservation.

In Texas, CSP contracts will average of $13,500 for Tier I and $30,800 per year for 5-10 years. A broad range of conservation work that protects and enhances natural resources is being funded. Typical conservation included in Texas contracts includes environmental improvements such as grazing management plans, crop rotations, riparian protection, no-till systems, wildlife habitat improvements, soil and water conservation, and stream bank stabilization.

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 and other NRCS programs see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. (See attached table for tiers and payments by watershed)

NRCS is the lead agency in the USDA for providing conservation technical assistance to owners and operators of private lands. NRCS serves customers through USDA's network of local, county-based offices. For more information on CSP or other programs and services offered through NRCS, call the USDA-NRCS office in your county, listed under USDA in the Yellow Pages.