Recent Development

CSP Interest Peaks in Howard County: The Wapsipinicon and Turkey River Sign-up
CSP, the Conservation Security Program has drawn an incredible amount of interest as many producers offer their operations for program enrollment. The responses from producers having completed the interview process have been very positive. As results and numbers for Howard County are released in the near future, they will be reported in newsletters and articles. The Project Coordinator in cooperation with NRCS and Howard SWCD staff will hold a public meeting this summer to show you how to maximize your contract payments when CSP arrives in the Upper Iowa Watershed in the near future.

Some Key CSP Considerations
• Diligent record keeping. Receipts of nutrient and chemical applications on a field by field basis separated by tract. Soil testing in 20 acre plots. An 80 acre field needs a minimum of 4 samples mapped.

• Minimize tillage especially on bean stubble. To be eligible for Tier 3 enrollment you must have at least 50% residue cover on crop fields over the winter months.

• Adopt a nutrient management plan even if you do not have livestock. Be sure you are not over-applying N-P-K or you will not be eligible. Take credit for nutrients in livestock manure applications no matter how small or large your operation may be. You will be required to list actual pounds of N-P-K and chemicals applied per acre.

• Construct and seed waterways where they are needed. The scarring caused by gully erosion is clearly visible on 2002 and 2004 infrared aerial imagery used in evaluating each tract offered for CSP.

• Buffer streams, drainages and wetland areas. Wildlife habitat is the key to Tier 3 enrollment. Large non-crop areas greater than 10 acres are not eligible as of right now. Although CRP acres are not eligible, the acres of habitat will make the difference. A minimum of 3% of the total acres in a field must have wildlife habitat to be eligible for Tier 3 enrollment. Cover could be in the form of waterways, filter strips, field borders, headlands or food plots. The EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) and the Continuous CRP Programs can help with habitat establishment.