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Farmers asked to share CSP experiences

The Center for Rural Affairs is looking for farmers to tell them how well the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is working for them. Traci Bruckner says the Rural Affairs center (based in Nebraska) advises the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on the program and the NRCS has made some improvements.

Bruckner, the assistant director for Rural Policy at the center, tells Brownfield Ag News they want to hear from farmers about the positives and negatives of the CSP.

“We can only make the needed improvements to the program if farmers are willing to reach out and let us know how the program worked for them. You know, it’s their efforts there. The knowledge that we learn from them is how we ensure that this program works to serve their needs. It’s REALLY important that they get in touch with us and let us know how the program worked for them,” Bruckner says.

About 63 Million acres are enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program nationally after the latest sign-up earlier this year. Because of automatic budget cuts through sequestration, she says future sign-up acres will decrease by some 800-thousand acres to 12 Million acres a year.

Both the House and Senate 2013 farm bills include funding for the CSP but would cut those acres further – the House version more so than the Senate’s.  Bruckner says they hope the baseline funding for the program will be built back up in future years.

The Center’s Farm Bill Helpline – the number to call to tell your CSP story – is 402-687-2100.

Interview with Traci Bruckner (8:00 mp3)