03/28/05 C.S.P. fits the bill

03/28/05 C.S.P. fits the bill

Today is opening day. No, that opening day is less than a week away. But eligible growers and ranchers in 220 watersheds in the United States are saying "My, Oh My" as they can sign up, starting today, for the second round of the federal Conservation Security Program. C.S.P. is designed to encourage enhancement and management of farm level conservation practices. KNIGHT: The management of everything from precision ag to precision nutrient management to precision grazing, or intensive grazing systems. Natural Resources Conservation Services Chief Bruce Knight says that the encouragement comes from payments for enhancements and incentives for other producers to meet high standards of environmental performance. And that definitely pleases the many growers expected to participate in C.S.P., including those in the numerous watersheds in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. But C.S.P. might also fit the bill in other ways. For those same participating producers, it also means some benefit from the energy component of the program. KNIGHT: Switching to no-till or quite frankly, switching outmoded irrigation engines, or outmoded grain dryers for a more efficient model will add to that total enhancement payment on these C.S.P. participants. And this won't compensate for the full cost of escalating diesel prices right now, but if a producer is interested in using biodiesel blends on their farm, as a C.S.P. participant, they can get an enhancement payment offset some of that cost. But perhaps the most unique feature of C.S.P., and one not talked about until recently, is how it fits into the World Trade Organization's recent push to reduce or eliminate subsidy payments for member nations. Developing W.T.O. nations are especially critical of U.S. farm subsidy payment programs calling many of them trade distorting But Knight says relax, U.S. conservation payment programs have been green boxed. That's W.T.O. lingo for non trade distorting and good to go. KNIGHT: There's no referee wearing a black and white shirt that gives you a ruling as you move through the process on whether is something is green box or not, but we've had the best minds & advisors in trade from the Department of Agriculture and elsewhere & to ensure that this new program & the Conservation Security Program & does fit. Sign up for C.S.P. takes place at participating U.S.D.A. Service Center offices in the Northwest, and the nation.
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