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Fiscal Year 2005 CSP Watersheds (Vermillion and Big Sioux Couteau)

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands.  Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation.  Authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill,  the program is available nationwide and provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.

The national NRCS Conservation Security Program web page has information on Program Rules, national fact sheet, key points, questions and answers, and other information.

Sign-up Period

The 2005 sign-up will begin March 28, 2005, and run through May 27, 2005.

For South Dakota Specific Information, please see the following:

Watersheds

What is a watershed?
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency's web site at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/whatis.html

Why a Watershed Approach is being Used

Two South Dakota watershed were among 202 selected nationally for implementing the 2005 Conservation Security Program:  the North Big Sioux Coteau and Vermillion Watersheds.

North Big Sioux Coteau Watershed Hot SpotVermillion Watershed Hot Spot2005 Watershed Map

CSP Application Process

The sign-up process is different than previous USDA conservation programs.  Participants are required to conduct a self-assessment to determine on their own whether or not they are likely eligible for the program.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentSouth Dakota CSP Fact Sheet (84.1 KB)

Before taking the self-assessment, NRCS recommends producers answer a series of screening questions.  This worksheet is designed to help you to determine if you may be eligible for participation in the CSP.  If the answers are "yes" to the questions that apply to the land to be enrolled, then the producer would potentially be eligible to participate in the CSP.  If there are "no" answers to any of the questions that apply to the land to be enrolled, producers should still consider completing the self-assessment at some point to help prepare for future CSP signups and learn about technical services and programs to conserve natural resources.

Self Assessment

To complete the Self-Assessment on-line, go to CSP Self-Assessment

The Self-Assessment also is available for download.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSelf-Assessment Workbook, (complete workbook, all pages) (941 KB)
For faster-downloading, the Self-Assessment workbook is also available in two separate sections, without photos:
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWorkbook Pages, (pages 1-24) (205 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendices without images, (pages 25-55) (296 KB)  

South Dakota CSP Worksheets

 Microsoft Word DocumentCSP Prescreening Questionnaire (43 KB)

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCSP Cropland Documentation (165 KB)

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetAnnual Grazing Record (129 KB)

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCSP Grazingland Prescreening Tool (27 KB)

Adobe Acrobat DocumentAg Operation Delineation (299 KB)

Microsoft Word DocumentCSP Control of Land Certification (28 KB)

Adobe Acrobat DocumentCSP Categories and Subcategories (195 KB)

Microsoft Word Document Tier II - Noxious Weed Control and Treatment (25.5 KB)

Microsoft Word DocumentEnergy Management Work Sheet (252 KB)

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCSP Energy Enhancement Tools - Use of Biofuels (28.5 KB)

Microsoft Word DocumentEnergy Audit Guidance (75.5 KB)

Microsoft Word DocumentBaseline Agricultural Energy Use Assessment Worksheet (120 KB)

Microsoft Word DocumentWater Quality on Cropland Resource Concerns and Management Requirements (WQ-2) (350 KB)
 

Enhancement Job Sheets

Grazing Management
Microsoft Word Document Improved Livestock/Forage Balance Through Forage Quality Monitoring with Decision Support Tools (Job Sheet G-1) (308 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Monitoring Sites for Decision Making (Job Sheet G-2) (1.14 MB)
Microsoft Word Document Management of Legumes in Pasture Land (Job Sheet G-3) (305 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Riparian Area Management (Job Sheet G-4) (318 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Warm Season Grass Pasture Management (Job Sheet G-5) (322 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Rotate Feeding and/or Supplementation Areas (Job Sheet G-6) (295 KB)
Habitat Management
Microsoft Word Document Large Blocks of Habitat (Job Sheet H-1) (303 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Delayed Rotational Haying (Job Sheet H-2) (303 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Winter Cereal Grains (Job Sheet H-3) (304 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Manage Restored Wetlands and Buffer Area for Wildlife Habitat (Job Sheet H-4) (300 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Riparian Area Management for Wildlife (Job Sheet H-5) (305 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Buffer for Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Job Sheet H-6) (300 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Topeka Shiner Cropland Buffer Zone (Job Sheet H-7) (304 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Topeka Shiner Riparian Zone (Job Sheet H-8) (302 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Off Channel Livestock Water Topeka Shiner Riparian Zone (Job Sheet H-9) (305 KB)
Irrigation Water Management
 Microsoft Word Document Irrigation Enhancement Index (Job Sheet I-1) (293 KB)
Soil Management
Microsoft Word Document Soil Conditioning Index (Job Sheet S-1) (292 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentSoil Management Enhancement Activities (Job Sheet ESM) (48.8 KB)
Nutrient Management
Microsoft Word Document Split Nitrogen Application (Job Sheet N-1) (317 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document Root Zone Application (Job Sheet N-2) (318 KB)
Microsoft Word DocumentPrecision Ag Technology (Job Sheet N-3) (317 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document Pastureland (Job Sheet N-4) (319 KB)
Microsoft Word Document Feed and Forage Balancing to Reduce Phosphorus Content in Manure (Job Sheet N-5) (312 KB)
Pest Management
Microsoft Word Document Precision Targeting/Application (Job Sheet P-1) (337 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document Reduced Risk Pest Management (Job Sheet P-2) (341 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document IPM (Job Sheet P-3) (354 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document Using Non-Chemical Methods to Control Undesirable Plants and Pests (Job Sheet P-4) (315 KB)
 Microsoft Word Document Noxious Weed Control - Spot Treatment (Job Sheet P-5) (315 KB)
Energy
 Microsoft Word Document Job Sheet E-1
 Microsoft Word Document Job Sheet E-2
 Microsoft Word Document Job Sheet E-3
 Microsoft Word Document Job Sheet E-4
 Microsoft Word Document Job Sheet E-5

South Dakota CSP Cost Lists

 Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCSP New Practice Cost List (26 KB)

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetVermillion Watershed Enhancement Cost List (55 KB)

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet North Big Sioux Coteau Watershed Enhancement Cost List (55 KB)

CSP Existing Practice Component for South Dakota
The existing Practice Payment is = to 25% of the Stewardship Payment

Example:  If a contract's annual Stewardship Payment is $1,000, the contract will have an existing Practice Payment of $250.

North Big Sioux Coteau Watershed Stewardship Rates
North Big Sioux Coteau Watershed Stewardship Rates

Vermillion Watershed Stewardship Rates
Vermillion Watershed Stewardship Rates

Program Contacts

Mike Kuck
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
Phone:  605-352-1200
Email:  michael.kuck@sd.usda.gov

Rod Voss
Conservation Security Program Coordinator
Phone:  605-352-1200
Email:  rodney.voss@sd.usda.gov

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