02/27/06 CSP signups in Idaho

Farmers and ranchers in the Clearwater and Bear River-Malad watersheds have until March 31st to sign up for the 2006 Conservation Security Program. Jody Fagan of the NRCS says producers should not wait until the last minute to bring in their paperwork. FAGAN "Oneida County, there's a lot of really great interest there, a lot of really good conservationists. And we know for sure the Clearwater watershed has some really great conservationists. We have a lot of no tillers and a lot of people doing great work out there." Fagan says with the anticipated CSP rush waiting until the last week of March may mean producers won't get the help they need. FAGAN "This program is more on the shoulders of the producers. And them being our top conservationists in the state they should have all their records together and know what kind of conservation practices they're doing and they'll need to document that in our Idaho Conservation Record Book." Only 60 of 110 earmarked watersheds actually got funding for 2006. The long range plan for the three year old CSP is to offer it in every watershed nationwide but again, it all depends on the availability of federal dollars that are harder to find with Congress already facing deficits. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott