**United States Department of Agriculture NEWS RELEASE**

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6013 Lakeside Boulevard

Indianapolis, IN 46278

www.in.nrcs.usda.gov

Conservation Security Program Self-Assessment Workbook Available for
Producers

INDIANAPOLIS, December 8, 2004---The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced that the
self-assessment workbook is available for potential participants in the
2005 winter sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP). CSP is
a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of
agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America's
natural resources.

"The workbook is significant because 'self-assessment' is a new way of
doing business with NRCS. Hoosier farmers can assess their potential
eligibility by themselves on their own time at their convenience," said
Jane E. Hardisty, NRCS State Conservationist.

The initial self-assessment will help producers identify whether their
individual agricultural operation meets sign-up criteria and answer the
question, \"Have I fully addressed the minimum requirements for both
soil quality and water quality on the land I manage?" By going through
the workbook, producers will get an initial idea about whether they are
eligible for CSP at this time. NRCS state offices will be preparing
supplements to the self-assessment workbook that further explain program
requirements and add any needed emphasis or explanation for local
conditions.

Producers who may not be eligible at this time can find out about other
USDA programs that can help them achieve a higher level of conservation
so that they may apply for CSP in the future.

To apply for the program, NRCS asks potential participants to complete
the self-assessment to determine if their operations meet the
requirements of the program and qualify for program participation. The
self-assessment process is completed using a self-screening
questionnaire for each land use to be enrolled.

NRCS provides up-to-date technology, tools and resource information to
meet the conservation needs of the nation's producers. Soil quality
assessment information at
<http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/soil_quality/assessment/index.html> includes
the Soil Conditioning Index, a tool used to predict the consequences of
cropping systems and tillage practices on the status of soil organic
matter. Water quality resources, including a Manure Management Planner,
are at <http://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/wq.html>.

On Nov. 2, 2004, USDA announced that the fiscal year 2005 CSP will be
available to eligible farmers and ranchers in 202 watersheds across the
nation during a sign-up to be held this winter. Four of these watersheds
touch 23 Indiana counties. A sign-up announcement will be published
along with the final rule that will detail specific program requirements
in these watersheds. The program will be offered each year on a
rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows.

The CSP self-assessment workbook is available in hardcopy or compact
disk (CD) from local NRCS offices and online at
[[http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp]{.underline}](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/prorams/csp).
Also at that Web site is a map of the CSP watersheds and additional
information on the program.

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Contacts:

Jane E. Hardisty, State Conservationist, (317) 290-3200

Michael McGovern, Public Affairs Specialist, (317) 290-3200, ext. 324

*USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*