USDA Announces Sign-Up Period for Updated Conservation Stewardship Program

April 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2019 is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical conservation program, which helps agricultural producers take the conservation activities on their farm or ranch to the next level.

“CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals,” said Sheldon Hightower, Tennessee NRCS State Conservationist. “It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled.”

While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by May 10, 2019, to ensure their applications are considered for 2019 funding.

Changes to the Program

The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from now until 2023, and it makes some important improvements to the program. These updates include:

•NRCS now enrolls eligible, high ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres. For fiscal year2019, NRCS can spend up to $700 million in the program, which covers part of the cost for producersimplementing new conservation activities and maintaining their existing activities.

•Higher payment rates are now available for certain conservation activities, including cover crops andresource conserving crop rotations.

•CSP now provides specific support for organic and for transitioning to organic production activitiesand a special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have maintained croplandbase acres.

About the Program CSP is offered in Tennessee through continuous sign-ups. The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe. More Information For additional information about CSP, contact the USDA service center located at 647 Bright Hill Road in Smithville or call 615-597-8226 x3..

April 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The budget committee meeting of the county commission scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled later

April 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A drunk driver involved in a motor vehicle crash into a Dowelltown home last September was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday.

23 year old Tanner Logan Glass of Nolensville entered a plea to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation supervised by CPS on judicial diversion. All other pending charges against him are dismissed

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 29, 2018 a deputy was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Village Square at Dowelltown. Upon arrival the officer observed that the vehicle had struck a house. He also saw that the driver, Glass was unconscious behind the steering wheel. Glass was awakened and confronted about the crash. Glass had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He was unsteady on his feet and unaware of his location.  He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was taken into custody.

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