The farmers spoke and the Natural Resources Conservation Service listened, changing and improving the new Conservation Stewardship Program to make it easier to understand and implement.

The next round of the program will feature a radical change from how it currently operates, making it easier for farmers and participants to make decisions on which activities to choose, what they will be paid, and how NRCS administers the program.

In the past, we used a conservation measurement tool, or CMT, asking specific questions and picking new enhancements or practices for the operation. Behind the scenes, points were assigned based on answers given providing the applicant with a total and generating a contract value.

This process was cumbersome and vague, making it difficult for applicants to pick a high value enhancement so they could get the most bang for their buck.

To make the process more transparent, the program will retire the CMT for resource concern-based questions. Applicants will answer “yes” or “no” to specific questions, allowing the conservation planner to detail a specific conservation plan that will address specific resource concerns. This will give NRCS and the participants a clear picture of how well they are managing their operations and specific areas that could be addressed.

Once the resource concerns are noted for the operation, the application is then ranked similar to other conservation programs addressing national, state and local questions. This will provide NRCS with a ranking picture for the office.

Applicants are still required to pick a new enhancement; however these are now tied to NRCS practice standards, allowing the participant a better understanding of what the objective is.

Previously some enhancements were vague at best in defining what the overall objective is; now farmers can focus on the resource or practices like soil health, soil quality or pasture management.

These new enhancements also have specific payments tied directly to them so during the interview stage the participant has a clear understanding of the reward they will receive for adopting that specific practice.

Historically, enhancements had points which, based on the acres enrolled, provided a factor that created the overall payment.

Overall the program is shaping into something that is workable for most operations and has gone through significant changes in the 10 years it has been in existence.

When first created it was a watershed-based, three- tiered system that was too complex to administer and understand; it was then simplified but the CMT and enhancement list did create some confusion, especially for those who wanted to maximize their payment.

Hopefully the new methodology used to generate contract costs will make it easier for NRCS to administer and farmers to accept.

Time will tell.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.