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Bartz identifies CSP watersheds Tuesday, November 9, 2004
from staff reports
Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Merlin Bartz announced the approved watersheds for the 2005 Conservation Security Program Friday at the Dan and Cara Miller farm near Spring Valley,Minn.
Nationally there will be 202 watersheds consisting of more than 83 million acres eligible to participate in the voluntary conservation program that rewards farmers for environmental stewardship on working lands.
In Minnesota there are five eligible watersheds: Red Lake, Redeye, Redwood, Root and Sauk, for a total of 2,603,146 eligible acres.
In Iowa there are 3,196,883 eligible acres in the North Raccoon, Turkey and Upper Wapsipinicon watersheds.
"The criteria used to pick the 2005 watersheds such as diversity in the landscape, the recent history of producers utilizing state and federal conservation cost-share programs, and areas of low soil erosion rates relative to potential soil erosion are evident in the management practices of the producers in these watersheds," said Tim Gieseke, agriculture and environmental policy specialist at the Minnesota Project.
The 2005 CSP will include a renewable energy component. Eligible farmers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels, for recycling 100 percent of their on-farm lubricants and for implementing energy production.
"The expansion of the Conservation Security Program is particularly rewarding for Minnesota because it recognizes and rewards conservation work already under way," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty in a statement. "This program will provide significant resources to expand existing efforts and continue to enhance Minnesota's status as a leader in conservation stewardship and innovation."
In the first CSP sign up, held in 2004, farmers in 18 watersheds nationwide -- including one in Minnesota -- were eligible to enroll in the program introduced in the 2002 farm bill. |
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