More than 200 Wisconsin Farmers Apply for CSP

More than 200 farmers in Wisconsin have applied to enter the Conservation Security Program, which is offering cash payouts for conservation within targeted regions in the Chippewa Valley and a small area of Walworth County.

With grants of $20,000 a year or more available, it is the first federal program designed not only to encourage environmentally sensitive farming, but also to reward past practices.

Chippewa County farmer Gary Loew, who has registered his 200-acre dairy farm, said that while he obviously would welcome the financial benefit, he also hopes to pick up ideas for protecting the natural beauty of his land even more.

"If it's about the money, then it's wrong to begin with," Loew said. "We'd like the next generation to come out here and say, 'Boy, this is Grandpa's farm, and we're proud to be here.' "

Wisconsin agricultural officials are relishing the opportunity to recognize farmers - and cheering the level of participation here.

Tom Krapf, assistant state conservationist for NRCS, said applications from 214 farmers in the Chippewa Valley and another 13 from Walworth County ranks among the highest levels of participation in the country.

"I don't want to say the highest, but it's right there," he said. "I'm very pleased with that."

To apply, farmers must outline their efforts at employing farming techniques that guard against soil erosion, water pollution and other environmental threats. Such activities commonly involve rotating crops annually, no-till farming, and soil testing to minimize fertilizer needs.

If selected for the program, farmers will be asked to sign 5- or 10-year contracts with the government pledging to continue their conservation efforts.

Depending on the scope of a farmer's involvement, the resulting annual grant could go as high as $20,000, $35,000 or $45,000, at three different tiers established.

Tammy Lindsay, district conservationist in Chippewa County for NRCS, said the program highlights conservation work that has been ingrained in many Wisconsin farming families over decades.

The complexity of the state's soil conditions, the rolling terrain and the many lakes and rivers are just some of the circumstances that challenge farmers who want to leave nature undisturbed, Lindsay said.

"People are kind of proud of their farms and what they're doing," she added. "We're just a step above the rest of the country because of what we've got to protect."

Farmers should find out within a couple of months if they have have been selected.

Officials implementing the program elected to target regions by making grants available within 18 select watersheds across the country. Those include the lower Chippewa River watershed in seven counties in western Wisconsin, and the Kishwaukee River watershed extending from Illinois into part of Walworth County. The government plans to expand to other watersheds in the future.

Federal agricultural officials in Wisconsin's targeted counties said the program gives them a chance to reward farmers whose conservation work has long been admired locally.

Greg Igl, district conservationist in Walworth County, said he hopes other farmers will become more aware of environmental issues after seeing neighbors honored.

"If you're doing good work, you're going to get rewarded," Igl said. "We're looking at some of the best. We expect them to be the good examples."

Story by by Scott Williams, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.