MD.300.8.1, LTP - Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP) Annual Payments

Maryland Bulletin: 300-8-1
Subject: LTP - FY2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP) Annual Payments
Date: October 15, 2007

Action Required By: February 1, 2008

Purpose. To provide instruction to CSP Field Offices for completing the FY2008 CSP annual payments.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Explanation.

Payments

Field Offices are to immediately begin processing CSP FY2008 annual payments. Funds have been allocated to Maryland to allow payment in full of the current FY2008 contract obligations. All FY2008 CSP annual payments are to be processed no later than February 1, 2008.

Contract participants will be able to receive their FY2008 annual payment before December 31, 2007, or will be able to elect to defer the payment until after January 1, 2008. A payment certification packet will be sent to the contract holder that includes: a letter describing payment options and urging them to contact their local field office by January 15, 2008; MD CSP Annual Payment Certification Form; and 1199A. A sample of the letter, MD CSP Annual Payment Certification Form, and 1199A are attached.

The annual payment for the established conservation system includes the stewardship payment, the existing practice payment, and the established enhancement activities that have previously been applied and are a recurring part of the conservation system. The initial annual payment will NOT include payment for new enhancements or new practices which are not ready for certification and payment. New practices and new enhancements are to be certified and approved for payment only after they are documented as established.

CSP enhancement activities are based on the level of stewardship performed on an agricultural operation system level. Where feasible, system extents should be used as opposed to actual yearly extents. Because the participant agrees to maintain at least the benchmark level of treatment, changes in extent of a benchmark enhancement to a lesser amount would constitute a potential contract violation. Changes upward would constitute a contract improvement and need to be addressed during an announced contract improvement modification request period.

Modifications

CSP modification buttons will be active during the annual payment process to allow changes in participant information which are critical to processing annual payments. Only maintenance modifications will be approved. This is NOT a contract improvement modification period and improvement modifications will NOT be approved.

Contact. If you have questions, please contact M. Tiffany Laws, CSP Program Manager, at 443-482-2960 or tiffany.laws@md.usda.gov.

MARK A. ROSE
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs

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