LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The deadline to apply for the Sustaining the Future of Rice Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is this Friday, March 2. This program is available for rice producers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. Go
here for more information.
A second separate and concurrent CSP sign-up is currently available for rice producers in Texas. This sign-up is part of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Prairie Conservation Reservoir Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) which is supported by the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership.
Producers should note that they will have to choose which program to apply for, and that they can only apply for one.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) CSP special project assists landowners and rice producers who voluntarily implement conservation and management practices that aim to improve irrigation water management, control sediment and nutrient runoff, and provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands.
“NRCS has updated the program to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources,” said Texas Rice Stewardship Coordinator Kirby Brown. “Partnership staff can help producers see up front why they are or are not meeting stewardship thresholds, and allow them to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These tools also enable producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process.”
This special RCPP CSP project area includes rice production acreage in 12 counties, including Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton. A special emphasis is placed on Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda counties.
This project allots 35,000 acres of CSP in 2018 specifically to Texas rice growers, however, applications must be received by NRCS Field Offices by March 2, 2018 to be considered.
Producers interested in CSP are encouraged to contact their
local USDA service center or visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. For more help, contact Texas Rice Stewardship staff Kirby Brown at (210) 213-2805 or
kbrown2@ducks.org, and Dennis Neuman at (512) 373-5736 or
dneuman@ducks.org.