09/12/05 C.S.P. and tree fruit

09/12/05 C.S.P. and tree fruit

Rod Nichols of U.S.D.A.'s Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Spokane says Orondo Washington apple grower Jesus Limon actually said "The Conservation Security Program is the best news in the apple business in a long time". NICHOLS: In the case of Jesus, it is true. Things haven't been all that good in the apple business. And if you can pick up an annual incentive payment, it can make the difference in those margins and really help out a lot, and I think that is where Jesus was coming from when he said that. Limon was selected as a C.S.P. recipient for 2005, his local watershed among several in the nation eligible for the conservation based incentive program. He was recently honored at a ceremony in his orchards. NICHOLS: Jesus has been really innovative and been an active participant in the Hispanic growers' education effort sponsored by the Wenatchee Community College. And he's also opened up his orchard to a number of water management workshops, nutrient management workshops. So he's been very active in the conservation community. Nichols says the point of the celebration was also to encourage others to participate in C.S.P. And although there are only seven Northwest watersheds announced as C.S.P. eligible for 2006, Nichols says Limon is an example of how many in the tree fruit industry are already doing environmentally responsible practices that would make them eligible for the program.
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