We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is designed to assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in enhancing their existing conservation efforts. The program aims to improve various aspects of operations including grazing conditions, crop resilience, and wildlife habitat. CSP helps in identifying natural resource issues and offers technical and financial support to address these challenges or elevate stewardship levels in an environmentally and economically viable way. The initiative encourages the implementation of conservation practices and activities that lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil, and better wildlife habitats, thereby enhancing agricultural operations. CSP offers annual payments for these practices and for maintaining existing conservation efforts. Additionally, CSP provides the option to select a suite of enhancements for a higher payment rate. CSP contracts last five years with a possibility for renewal, focusing on maintaining and implementing additional conservation activities. Priority resource concern categories in Virginia include issues related to agricultural land, pasture, farmstead, associated agriculture land, and forestry land, targeting specific problems like erosion, plant condition, loss of nutrients, and habitat conditions.