Skip to main content
 
  • Click to open or close the program search boxShow Me Programs
    • Show me the programs that are
      performing Go
    • Show me the programs that are
      not performing Go
ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

View Assessment Details

Conservation Security Program

The Conservation Security Program's (CSP) purpose is to improve the quality of the Nation's natural resources by providing incentives to farmers and ranchers who meet the highest conservation standards; thus creating powerful incentives for other farmers and ranchers to achieve the same standards.

Rating

What This Rating Means

NOT PERFORMING
Results Not Demonstrated

A rating of Results Not Demonstrated (RND) indicates that a program has not been able to develop acceptable performance goals or collect data to determine whether it is performing.
  • Although CSP is the only conservation program that recognizes and rewards farmers and ranchers for ongoing high levels of environmental stewardship, it has not yet demonstrated that it effectively motivates people to achieve a higher level of conservation than they otherwise would adopt.
  • CSP has potential to duplicate payments disbursed through other USDA programs. Analysis of the first year's implementation identified situations where CSP stewardship payments replicated payments of other USDA programs.
  • It is difficult to estimate the environmental benefits from CSP's enhancement activities that provide incentives for producers to achieve benefits greater than the minimum standards. Unlike cost-share program that directly impact the environment, CSP rewards producers who already meet the minimum standards and provides them incentive payments to perform additional conservation activities.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Developing and implementing new systems to reduce the number of duplicative payments.
  • Developing and implementing a five-year comprehensive budget and performance management strategy aligned with NRCS's strategic plan.
  • Revising CSP's long-term and annual measures to adequately reflect PART guidance.

Learn More
The content on ExpectMore.gov is developed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Federal agencies.