The Natural Resources Conservation Service will hold an informational meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Butler County Farm Service Agency.

The meeting will cover various Farm Bill programs but primarily concentrate on a new program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, or CSP.

The CSP is available to nearly all producers; however, those who soil test, plant hay, no-till or have reduced tillage, have a crop rotation, apply manure or fertilizer, or plant pest-resistant or other genetically modified crops and have generally implemented a good level of conservation will fit well into this program.

The program offers five-year contracts on any owned and operated farm ground and will pay about $15 to $20 per acre per year.

For those who might need to improve their level of conservation to increase the likelihood of funding under CSP, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program can be of help.

Eligible practices under EQIP include transitioning to no-till or using cover crops, nutrient management record keeping, manure storages, winter feeding pads and grazing systems. Other small project items such as paddock fence and watering systems also can be funded.

Producers are encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about the latest Farm Bill's conservation programs and how these programs can improve the economic viability of their operation.

For those who cannot attend the meeting but would like to enroll, contact our office at 724-482-4800, Ext. 108. Sign-up is continuous; however, the cutoff for this round of money is Dec. 31.

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