Many apply to stewardship program

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania has received over 500 applications to participate in the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). These applications cover an estimated 130,000 acres statewide.

In Northeastern Pennsylvania, supervisory district conservationist Jill Weaver noted that there were 40 applications for the CSP. The applications were for agricultural cropland, hayland, pastureland, vegetables/fruit growing acreage, Christmas trees and private forest land. “We received applications from every county that our NRCS field team serves—Wayne, Wyoming, Pike, Monroe, Lackawanna and Susquehanna,” said Weaver.

CSP provides financial and technical assistance to eligible agricultural and forestry producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land, and encourages producers to voluntarily implement more conservation practices and improve, maintain and manage existing ones.

Lands accepted into CSP include cropland, pastureland and non-industrial private forestland—a new land use for the program. Individual landowners/operators, legal entities and corporations are eligible to apply for CSP assistance.

For additional information visit nrcs.usda.gov/new_csp or call 570/282-8732, ext. 611.