URBANDALE, Iowa - The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is proud to have been among the major players who helped design the Conservation Security Program (CSP). In fact, among the primary objectives of ISA were the direction of CSP incentives toward rewarding producers who are good conservationists and support on-farm evaluation and renewable fuels. Nationally, CSP is available on 185 million acres in every state. That means that approximately 235,000 producers and ranchers who farm in 220 watersheds may be eligible — including six watersheds targeted for CSP funding by the USDA-NRCS in Iowa.

To receive CSP payments, producers must be able to demonstrate a record of conservation-oriented management. Farm records and some paperwork are required. Producers who have participated in ISA’s Certified Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture (CEMSA) program, the On-Farm Network, or ISA watershed programs are finding that they already have an advantage. That’s because, in many cases, participating in those ISA programs has established a paper trail of nutrient management and conservation efforts.

Lake City, Iowa producer Dwight Dial says that the effects of his participation in CEMSA have been noticed. “The local NRCS office was very impressed with the work we did with CEMSA. So much so that they asked if they could use it while working on our CSP application. Overall, they were impressed.”

There’s real money at stake with CSP. A Tier One contract can translate into $20,000 a year. A Tier Two contract might mean a five- to 10-year contract of up to $35,000 a year. A Tier Three contract can turn into a five- to 10-year contract worth up to $45,000 a year.

Using renewable fuels like soy biodiesel can enhance the payoff. Under CSP’s renewable energy component, payments will be made to qualifying producers for converting to soy biodiesel and for recycling all farm lubricants. A form called “Renewable Fuel Records” is available from NRCS field offices to assist with record keeping.

In any case, it’s worth it to producers to look into CSP. A copy of the CSP Self Assessment Workbook is available from the NRCS Web site at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp, or at local USDA Service Centers. Producers are urged to remember sign-up period is running out — from March 28th to May 27th. The time to act is now!

For more information about ISA’s CEMSA program or about soy biodiesel, please call the Iowa Soybean Association at 800-383-1423
.