Guest Commentary - Conservation Stewardship Program Improvements Needed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on recent changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

The program, the most significant leap in conservation policy in a decade, was designed to reward top-notch conservation already on the ground, as well as incentivize the integration of new and innovative conservation systems that protect and enhance the quality of our soil, water and air.

However, without crucial changes, the program will fail to yield those intended results. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) must base producers’ ranking and payments s...