By Noah Gilbert-Fuller, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is pleased to announce the release of payments under a new program, the Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program. So far, $150,000 has been released to 30 Vermont farms for their ongoing participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). This state incentive payment opportunity will continue to be available for new CSP applicants, but funding is limited. Producers are encouraged to work with their local NRCS office to start the application process now.
The Conservation Stewardship Program is a federal program that helps land managers enhance a variety of natural resources across their whole farm while improving their business operations. CSP requires farms to meet certain environmental objectives and to commit to five years of enhanced conservation on their land. In return, producers receive an annual conservation payment, which ranges from $1,500-$40,000 per year for five years depending on the type and scale of conservation activities planned by the farm. This program funds the most acres of conservation in the United States but has historically been undersubscribed in Vermont. In 2022 NRCS awarded only 4 Conservation Stewardship Program contracts in Vermont. In part due to the Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program and local outreach efforts, NRCS anticipates awarding 36 Conservation Stewardship Program contracts this year.
The Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program is designed to introduce more Vermont farmers to the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program and to increase the number of farms who seek to improve their environmental stewardship. The state incentive is designed to provide upfront incentive payments and technical assistance to increase the number of farms who enroll in CSP. Each farmer who applies for a new contract with CSP will be eligible to receive between $2,000 and $9,500 in state incentives, depending on their level of engagement.
Interested applicants who have yet to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program are encouraged to work with their local NRCS office now to begin their application. Applications for state incentive payments under the Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program will continue to be accepted through November 3rd, but funding is limited!
To apply for the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program, Vermont farms must first contact their local Farm Services Agency (FSA) to ensure their farm records are up to date, and then submit an application to their local NRCS office. FSA and NRCS office locations can be found online at the USDA Service Center locator. More information about the Vermont Farmers Ecosystem Stewardship Program can be found at agriculture.vermont.gov/CSP-Assist.
If you have any questions, you can contact Noah Gilbert-Fuller at 802-505-3407 or Noah.Gilbert-Fuller@vermont.gov.