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History of the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in New Jersey

micro-irrigation in vineyardThe Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a voluntary program authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill.  CSP is a voluntary conservation program that rewards private landowners for their ongoing stewardship of natural resources. The program will ultimately be offered in every watershed in New Jersey on a rotational basis each year in as many New Jersey watersheds as funding allows. Some New Jersey farmers in selected watersheds have qualified for program participation.

2006 Raritan Watershed

Eighteen New Jersey farmers in the Raritan Watershed were selected for 2006 Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts, with an estimated $117,258 of FY2006 CSP funds allocated to cover these agreements. The projected cost for the life of these 10-year contracts is $1.12 million.

The Raritan Watershed covers approximately 1,100 square miles (699,542 acres) and includes parts of seven counties (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset and Union counties) and all or part of 100 municipalities.

2005 Cohansey-Maurice Watershed

CSP was initiated in New Jersey in 2005 when the program was made available to farmers in the Cohansey-Maurice Watershed. Six contracts were awarded through the program that year.

2005 Program Information

Documents with icon require Adobe Acrobat.
Adobe Acrobat Document Conservation Security Program: 2005 Self-Assessment Workbook (941 kb)

El Cuaderno de Autoevaluación del Programa de Seguridad para Conservación (CSP) Ahora Está Disponible en Español  - Spanish Version of CSP Self-Assessment Workbook

Adobe Acrobat Document New Jersey CSP 2005 Supplemental Workbook (363 kb)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentCohansey-Maurice Watershed Report (176 kb)
Adobe Acrobat Document 2005 New Practice and Enhancement Cost Table - Table of eligible practices and estimated costs used by NRCS to develop CSP contracts
 Pasture Condition Score Guide (5,458 kb) - Guide has color photos and describes in more detail the elements involved in the scoring system.
 Pasture Condition Score Sheet (56 kb)
 List of Plants Desirable for Pastures (55 kb)  

2005 CSP Stewardship Payment Rates
  Tier I Tier II Tier III
Cropland $0.60 acre $2.40 acre $5.40 acre
Irrigated Cropland $1.00 acre $4.00 acre $9.00 acre
Pastureland $0.38 acre $1.50 acre $3.38 acre
2005 Press Releases

These document require Adobe Acrobat.
Adobe Acrobat Document Johanns Announces Sign-Up, Expansion, Amendment to Interim Final Rule for 2005 Conservation Security Program (3/17/2005 national USDA press release) (46 kb)
Adobe Acrobat Document 2005 Conservation Security Program Sign Up Announced for Southern New Jersey Watershed  (3/17/2005 press release) (43 kb)
Adobe Acrobat Document Informational Meetings for New Conservation Security Program (1/20/2005 press release) (38 kb)
Adobe Acrobat Document Conservation Security Program Self-Assessment Workbook Available for Producers (12/6/2004) (42 kb)
Adobe Acrobat Document New Jersey Watershed Included in Historic Expansion of the National Conservation Security Program (11/3/2004 press release) (28kb)

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Last Modified: December 27, 2007