Other Ag News: Release: NSAC Publication Analyzes Conservation Stewardship Program Data Since the 2018 Farm Bill

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Washington, DC, October 9, 2024 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) recently published a new report: Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill. This comprehensive analysis delves into Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) enrollment from fiscal year (FY) 2019 to 2023, uncovering trends in program spending and practices that have significantly enhanced environmental outcomes at the farm, state, and national levels.

“As we look ahead to the next farm bill, it is essential that Congress invest in the Conservation Stewardship Program and long-term agricultural sustainability,” said Becky Schewe, PhD, NSAC Research and Policy Analyst. “The data in this report clearly illustrates the program’s widespread impact on both environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity.”

The report highlights the critical role of CSP as the nation’s largest conservation program, with 69 million cumulative acres enrolled. It reveals that during the 2018 Farm Bill, 36,799 new CSP contracts were signed, enrolling 49 million new acres, although the renewal rate for expiring contracts plummeted from nearly 60% to just 20%. This decline underscores the importance of continued investment in CSP to support long-term conservation practices on farms.

“This report shows that CSP continues to be a popular and powerful tool for producers stewarding land across the country. It shows the resounding success of IRA spending inside CSP, illustrates tens of millions of acres of successful conservation efforts, and demonstrates a clear need for increased investment in CSP going forward,” said Jesse Womack, NSAC Policy Specialist, adding that: “The report underscores the critical need for Congress to enact essential reforms in the farm bill that ensure CSP can effectively promote sustainable agriculture.”

Key findings of the report include:

• Strong targeting of water quality, soil health, and climate resilience
• Successful implementation of IRA funding
• Challenges presented by the new competitive renewals process
• A need for improved set asides for beginning and socially disadvantaged producers
• A need for permanent increases in total CSP funding

The most common practices funded were prescribed grazing, pest management conservation systems (formerly integrated pest management), and cover crops. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 further bolstered CSP funding, leading to 2,400 contracts and 3.28 million additional acres enrolled in FY23.

The report builds on previous NSAC reports from 2017 and 2020, reinforcing the need for strategic policy decisions that prioritize conservation and sustainability in agriculture.

The full report can be found on NSAC’s publications page here. 

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The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net

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