Meetings To Be Held on New Conservation Program

Sistersville WV and Marietta, OH—The Natural Resources Conservation Service is sponsoring six informational meetings to explain the newest soil and water conservation program to area landowners and operators.

“The Conservation Security Program rewards farmers in this watershed who have been implementing conservation practices and who might like to do more work if needed,” said Rick Patterson, NRCS District Conservationist in Sistersville, WV.

The Little Muskingum/Middle Island River Watershed is one of 202 nationally selected watersheds to participate in this program. Producers in the Little Muskingum/Middle Island River Watershed in portions of Ohio and West Virginia may be eligible to participate in the program. The watershed encompasses parts of Guernsey, Noble, Monroe and Washington Counties in Ohio and Doddridge, Tyler, Wetzel, Wood, Marshall and Pleasants Counties in West Virginia.

Six informational meetings have been scheduled in February and March to explain the program to area landowners and operators. The scheduled meetings are:

February 22

• 6-9 pm -Woodsfield Church of Christ — Community Room,Woodsfield, OH

February 23

• 7-9 pm - Doddridge County Middle School, Rt. 50, West Union, WV
• 6-9 pm -Washington State Community College — Community Room, Colgate Drive, Marietta, OH

February 24

• 7-9 pm – WV Northern Community College, Room 110, 141 Main St. New Martinsville, WV
• 6-9 pm - East District Extension Office, 16714 Wolf Run Road, Belle Valley, OH

March 1

• 7-9 pm – Spence Center, 605 Cherry Street, St. Marys, WV

The Conservation Security Program rewards farmers who practice high levels of grazing management, keep detailed crop production records, apply conservation buffer systems and use university recommendations for nutrient and pest management and animal waste utilization. Depending on the amount of conservation now on the land, producers may be eligible for one of three tiered payments.

Tier payment levels for 2005 will be determined and announced before sign-up begins this spring. For CSP in 2004, the tiered payments were:

• Tier 1-soil and water concerns addressed on part of the farm operation may qualify for up to $20,000 for a 5 year contract;
• Tier 2-soil and water concerns addressed on the entire agricultural operation may qualify for up to $35,000 for a 5 to 10 year contract; and
• Tier 3-all natural resource concerns addressed by landowners or operators on the entire agricultural operation may qualify for up to $45,000 for a 5 to 10 year contract.

Additional details are available on the NRCS website at http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/csp_index.html