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USDA NRCS in Tennessee Announces Application Deadline for FY2022 Conservation Stewardship Program - Classic Deadline to Apply is February 4, 2022 NASHVILLE, January 4, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) strongly encourages Tennessee agricultural producers who want to enhance their current conservation efforst to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)-Classic, formerly known as CSP-General. The deadline to apply is February 4, 2022. “The Conservation Stewardship Program is a great opportunity for Tennessee producers and foresters to maintain and build on their existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operation,” said Sheldon Hightower, Tennessee NRCS State Conservationist. CSP offers additional opportunities to expand on existing conservation efforts by offering conservation practices, enhancements, bundles, and other conservation activities. Producers who decide to enroll in CSP will have a consultation with their local NRCS conservation planner to evaluate their current management system and the natural resources on their land. The NRCS conservation planner will then present a variety of CSP conservation activities for the producer to consider implementing in order to address additional natural resource concerns. While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, applications must be submitted by February 4, 2022 to be considered for fiscal year 2022 funding. Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for: • actively maintaining the existing level of conservation based on the land uses included in the contract and NRCS assessment of existing stewardship at the time of enrollment, and • implementing additional conservation activities. Producers interested in CSP are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. For more information about the CSP program, contact Dustin Graham at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 731-410-4660.

January 7, 2022– The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced an application deadline for fiscal year 2022 funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which includes special emphasis projects through NRCS partnerships with the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). Private landowners or entities are encouraged to apply by Friday, February 11, 2022. Farmers can now apply for conservation easements in western Tennessee. These easements provide financial assistance to farmers who voluntarily take their frequently flooded lands out of agricultural use. The program benefits nature by restoring these wetland areas to bottomland hardwood forest and reconnecting the floodplain to the Mississippi River. Areas eligible for funding include the watersheds of the south fork of Obion River, Forked Deer, and North Fork Forked Deer in Dyer, Gibson, Crockett, Madison, Henderson, Lauderdale, Obion, Weakley, Carroll, Lake and Henry Counties Tennessee. ACEP-WREP easements can be enrolled as 30-year or perpetual, based on the landowner(s) desired management of the offered property. 30-year easements are valued at 25 percent less than perpetual easements and landowners are responsible for 25 percent of restoration costs whereas perpetual easements are eligible for a 100 percent restoration cost-share. Alternatively, landowners have the option to offer their property at a reduced purchase and/or restoration cost to improve application ranking. Easement compensation rates are established each year. Although, rates have not yet been established for fiscal year 2022, rates for 2021 ranged from $3,150 to $3,800 per acre for open land and $2,200 per acre for woodland. Compensation rates are based on county location. Applications received after the designated cutoff date of Friday, February 11 will be considered in the next program year or in subsequent application periods, if announced. If a landowner is applying for ACEP on multiple parcels of land, any non-contiguous parcels must be submitted as separate applications. Contiguous multiple parcels may be submitted as one application, provided the ownership is identical for each parcel. Entities and landowners interested in applying for ACEP-WREP funding should contact their local NRCS Service Center.

 

The Madison County Soil Conservation District is one of 95 such Districts in the state and one of 3,000 such Districts across the country.  The District is a corporate and political subdivision of Tennessee state government, having the same geographic boundaries as those of Madison County, comprising some 358,000 cares.  It was established by the state soil conservation committee at the request of Madison County landowners in 1941 and was organized in accordance with the purposes, provisions, powers and restrictions set forth within the Tennessee Soil Conservation District Law 43-14-201 through 43-14-223.  Madison County Soil Conservation District was the ninth Soil Conservation District to be organized in Tennessee.  The District is governed by a board of supervisors composed of five landowners residing within the District.  Two of the supervisors are appointed to serve three year terms by the state soil conservation committee, while three of the supervisors are elected to serve three years by the land owners within the District.  The present board consists of Don Johnson, Chairman; Alan Ewell, Vice Chairman; Matt Griggs, Secretary-Treasurer; Chris Couch, Member; and Jim Tyson, Member.

The District was organized with the help of promotional work by T.W. Hillsman, U.T. Extension Agent, and John Aycock, Soil Conservation Service Conservationist.  The District's first program of work was prepared on September 10, 1941.  A Memorandum of Understanding was completed with the United States Department of Agriculture on September 26, 1941.  A supplemental Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Soil Conservation Service on October 1, 1941.

The function of the District is to locate technical, financial and educational resources then coordinate and focus these resources toward the application of sound natural resource conservation practices.  In meeting this purpose, the District works with and serves landowners, farmers, ranchers, wildlife advocates, conservationists, environmentalists, teachers, students, businesses, agencies, government officials, and the general public.

The District is proud to be a member of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), and the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (TACD).

 

Your Path to Soil Health FAQs

Many producers are enjoying the benefits of Soil Health but questions  remain. The Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are partnering to provide answers to the most frequently asked soil health questions on a webpage.  In addition to the FAQ, visitors will be able to view a soil health photo gallery and videos. 

Click to visit the Soil Health FAQ ...

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

 

The organization of conservation districts in Tennessee began June 13th 1940 with the creation of Sumner County and Lauderdale County SCDs.  By 1959, with the creation of the Lake County SCD on September 9th, all 95 counties in Tennessee had formed soil conservation districts. 

The Madison County Soil Conservation District is a corporate and political subdivision of Tennessee.  Organized July 10th, 1941 by the state soil conservation committee at the request of Madison County landowners, the district became the tenth soil conservation district to be formed in Tennessee.  It received its charter from the state on October 1st, 1941.  The original board was composed of Tom Lewis, C. O. Hopper, J. Harris Smith, N.T. Mayo, and Roy Ozier.  Organized in accordance with the purposes, provisions, power and restrictions set forth within the Tennessee Soil Conservation District law the district geographical and policital boundaries are the same as those of Madison County, comprising some 358,000 acres of land and water.  The district is one of 95 such districts in the state and one of 3,000 districts across the country.

The District does much to promote conservation but its primary function is as an intermediary between owners of privately owned agricultural property and the Federal Government, wherein, through cooperating agreements between the District and private landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the Federal Government under USDA will provide certain technical services and financial aid to assist private landowners with the prevention and reduction of soil erosion and with the conservation of soil related natural resources.