Other Grant Opportunities
Connecticut Conservation Stewardship Program
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers build on their existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operation. CSP pays participants for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
CSP addresses various resource concerns including soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air quality, plant resources, and animal resources as well as energy by helping producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns.
For producers who are already taking steps to improve the condition of their land, CSP can help them find new ways to meet their goals. Whether they are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help meet those goals. NRCS can help identify natural resource problems in an operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.
This also includes practices used in the Regenerative Pilot Program, an outcomes-based approach to conservation, addressing whole farm resource concerns through regenerative agriculture conservation plans.
CSP provides two possible types of payments through five-year contracts: annual payments for installing new conservation activities and maintaining existing practices; and supplemental payments for adopting a resource-conserving crop rotation.
How to Apply
Apply at your local USDA Service Center. While NRCS accepts applications year-round, interested agricultural producers in Connecticut should apply by November 30 to be considered for fiscal year 2027 funding.
Payments are made after October 1 of each fiscal year for contract activities installed and maintained in the previous year.