Kalee Olson, policy associate, [email protected] or Teresa Hoffman, senior communications associate, [email protected], 402.687.2100 ext. 1012
The deadline for South Dakota farmers and ranchers to submit initial paperwork for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is Nov. 3.
The programs, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provide financial and technical assistance to producers who are interested in implementing conservation practices while maintaining agricultural production.
“The voluntary design of CSP and EQIP allows producers to select practices that meet the unique needs of their operations while taking steps to protect natural resources and improve soil health,” said Kalee Olson, policy associate for the Center for Rural Affairs.
While based on the same goal to conserve natural resources on working lands, CSP and EQIP differ in ways that are important to consider.
EQIP contracts are typically one to three years, and are designed to help address a particular resource concern with a single practice or project, such as reducing erosion through the use of cover crops. The program also offers assistance for structural practices, such as fencing for rotational grazing.
CSP contracts last five years and ask producers to implement multiple practices across their operations. Applicants must demonstrate they are currently engaged in conservation and be willing to implement additional practices.
“This year, both programs will receive increased funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. This is great news for producers, as more contracts will be offered than in past years,” Olson said.
In 2022, nearly 515 CSP and EQIP contracts advanced conservation across nearly 796,000 acres of South Dakota.
Producers interested in applying for either program should contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible. A list of local offices can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-
