The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is opening the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for new enrollments in St. Lawrence County.

While local NRCS offices accept CSP applications year round, NRCS evaluates applications during specific, announced ranking periods.

To be considered for the current CSP enrollment, producers must have their applications submitted to NRCS by Jan. 17, 2014.

“CSP is different than our other financial assistance programs,” said NY NRCS State Conservationist Don Pettit. “It offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. It helps to ensure that their farms are more productive and sustainable in the future.”

In CSP producers install conservation enhancements to make positive changes in soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air quality, plant resources, animal resources and energy.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

For the checklist and additional information, visit the CSP website or visit your local USDA NRCS office.

General information regarding NRCS New York Conservation Programs can be found at: http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

To apply visit a local NRCS field office, which can be located using the web site: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=NY.