Louisiana rice producers can sign up for a new conservation program through the end of December. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) as part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding awarded to the USA Rice – Ducks Unlimited Stewardship Partnership.
The RCPP assists landowners and rice producers who voluntarily implement conservation and management practices that improve irrigation water management, control sediment and nutrient runoff, and provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands. A main goal is to reduce groundwater demand in the alluvial aquifer from rice production to ensure sustainability of the water source for future rice production.
CSP updates include methods and software for evaluating applications designed to assist producers in determining if and when they are meeting stewardship thresholds. The tools allow producers to pick practices and enhancements and see potential payment scenarios early in the process. The NRCS encourages producers, through CSP, to adopt the cutting-edge technologies and new management techniques that include irrigation water management, precision agriculture applications, new soil amendments to improve water quality and more.
“This year, the Conservation Stewardship Program provides even more opportunities for conservation and greater flexibility at the local level to prioritize resource concerns and conservation approaches,” says Kevin Norton, State Conservationist for Louisiana. “The new CSP has increased transparency that will improve the customer experience during application evaluations.”
This special RCPP CSP sign-up is targeted for rice production acreage in Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion and West Carroll. The project will provide a special CSP allotment of 18,000 acres in 2017 to Louisiana rice growers.
The application deadline for this special RCPP CSP is Dec. 30, for the first ranking pool. NRCS operates under a continuous sign-up, however specific deadlines are used for ranking, contracting and funding. Additional ranking pools and deadlines may be established if more acres are available.