NEWS

CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM PUBLIC MEETING SET FOR APRIL 8

DOVER, DE, April 2, 2008 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a public meeting on April 8 for producers interested in the 2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP). The program is available to producers in the northern part of the Broadkill Smyrna Watershed (which includes the Smyrna, Leipsic and St. Jones Rivers-see map on right). The eligible watershed covers an estimated 330 farms in parts of New Castle and Kent Counties.  The public meeting will be held at the Leipsic Fire Hall, 318 Main Street, Leipsic, DE from 6-8 P.M.  

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards those producers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations. 

CSP sign-up is April 18-May 16.  During the meeting, NRCS staff will provide producers with an overview of the program and guide them through the application process. CSP requires that all producers complete a self-assessment workbook, which will be available at the meeting.  The self-assessment is also available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/.   

No advance reservation or registration is necessary to attend.  For more information on the public meeting or CSP, visit www.de.nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center: in New Castle, call 302-832-3100 ext.3; in Kent County, call 302-741-2600 ext. 3.