The Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service announced Monday that it has opened the Conservation Stewardship Program for new enrollments for federal fiscal year 2014, but that applications must be submitted by January 17.

“Through the Conservation Stewardship Program, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners are going the extra mile to conserve our nation’s resources,” NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. “Through their conservation actions, they are ensuring that their operations are more productive and sustainable over the long run.”

Under the CSP, farmers must promise to take their level of natural resource management to the next level to improve both their agricultural production and provide valuable conservation benefits such as cleaner and more abundant water, as well as healthier soils and better wildlife habitat, Weller said.

Producers earn higher payments for higher performance, he noted.

Some popular enhancements used by farmers and ranchers include:

• Using new nozzles that reduce the drift of pesticides, lowering input costs and making sure pesticides are used where they are most needed;
• Modifying water facilities to prevent bats and bird species from being trapped;
• Burning patches of land, mimicking prairie fires to enhance wildlife habitat; and
• Rotating feeding areas and monitoring key grazing areas to improve grazing management.