VT Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) encourages agricultural producers and landowners to further their conservation efforts, improving their business operation while enhancing the condition of the land. Key goals include improving grazing conditions, increasing crop resiliency, and developing wildlife habitats. CSP helps participants identify and address natural resource issues through a comprehensive plan, offering technical and financial assistance for adopting new conservation practices or activities. With a focus on benefits such as enhanced resiliency to weather and market changes, reduced need for agricultural inputs, and improved wildlife habitat conditions, CSP supports working lands with a commitment to environmental betterment. The program involves a five-year contract, with the possibility of renewal, to implement and maintain conservation practices, offering annual payments for these efforts. These contracts are designed to maintain existing levels of conservation and introduce additional activities, with a framework that supports both the ecosystem and the agricultural productivity of the enrolled lands.