What can conservation planning help you do?

  • Develop a whole-farm stewardship plan to address resource concerns on your farm, such as soil erosion and quality, water quality, plant/animal health, and energy.
  • Take advantage of federal funding for conservation projects on your farm through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

You will work collaboratively with a certified CFSA Technical Service Provider to identify your conservation goals and assess and analyze the natural resources issues on your farm related to soil, water, animals, plants, air, energy, and human interaction.

How to Apply

  • Since this is a Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) program, you need to apply to NRCS first for a CPA 138, DIA 140, CPA 116, or DIA 162 naming CFSA as the technical service provider (TSP). Visit Applying to Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
  • Once you receive a contract, fill out our Application to get started.

    • Types of conservation activities

      • Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs): Help you identify your conservation objectives and assess and analyze natural resource concerns on your land related to the soil, water, animals, plants, air, energy, and human interaction.
      • Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs): Help you develop specific practice designs and management plans to implement conservation practices.
      • Conservation Practices: Help you address specific resource concerns.

     

    “The plan enhanced my knowledge and ability to plan what I’m going to do next in this field. Because of the soil, you just can’t plant corn in the same place year after year.”
    – Allen Cockfield, J&C Cockfield Farms (Coard, SC)

    Which conservation activities can CFSA help you with?

    **New**: Organic Management: Conservation Practice 828

    • A suite of practices that enhance your farm’s organic production system.
    • This practice applies to all farms where organic management practices are used.
    • Payments range from $250 to $2,000+ per acre per year, depending on the number of practices you implement and your cropping system.

    Organic Transition

    • CPA 138 Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition contains planned conservation activities that address resource concerns resulting from the transition from conventional to organic production systems.
    • Here is a sample CPA 138 plan.
    • DIA 140 Transition to Organic includes information on implementing structural and management practices that address resource concerns identified in your CPA 138.

    Soil Health Plans

    • CPA 116 Soil Health Management Plan identifies soil health concerns related to the soil’s physical, biological, and chemical properties.
    • Here is an example of a CPA 116.
    • DIA 162 Soil Health Management develops site-specific recommendations and designs for soil health-related practices that address soil health principles identified in CPA 116.
    Rebate to Non-HU* FarmerRebate to HU** Farmer
    CPA 138 – Organic Transition$250$1,250
    DIA 140 – Organic Transition$250$1,750
    CPA 116 – Soil Health$250$600
    DIA 162 – Soil Health$250$1,000
    * Historically underserved producers, as defined by the NRCS. ** The difference in rebate payments between HU and non-HU producers is based on higher payment rates from NRCS for plans written for HU producers.