Speaking of precision fertilization, if you’re thinking about trying Agrium’s ESN controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer product, check with your local NRCS office to see if you qualify for a $12-$24/acre payment in the CSP program. Deadline to apply is September 30.

“Growers are already dedicated stewards of the land and we are very pleased to see the government rewarding them for doing the right things to keep farm and rural lands healthy. We are also proud that our products assist them in achieving these goals,” says Jeff Novak, Director of Marketing, Agrium Advanced Technologies (AAT).

The first enrollment period is open now and runs to the end of September. To begin the process, growers can complete a check-list available on the NRCS Web site. NRCS will determine the payment rate at the end of the initial sign-up but it is estimated to be between $12 and $22 per acre of cropland. More information on the program can be found at AgriumAT.com/nrcs.

One of the environmental issues addressed through CSP is water quality, including fertilizer used on crop and pasture lands. To improve water quality, CSP offers an enhancement – or payment program – for farmers who use controlled release or slow-release nitrogen.

ESN, a controlled release nitrogen fertilizer manufactured by AAT, has been proven to minimize nitrogen run-off by coating urea, a traditional nitrogen fertilizer, with a material that breaks down over time. “Agrium’s 4R nutrient stewardship – using the right product at the right rate, right time and right place – is a best management practice that leads to long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability which is consistent with the NRCS program and the use of ESN,” says Paul Poister, Government and Community Relations Manager, Agrium U.S., Inc.

CSP, a voluntary program, was created by the 2008 Farm Bill and replaces the old Conservation Security Program familiar to many farmers and landowners. CSP is offering a continuous enrollment, with an annual acreage cap of 12,769,000 acres nationwide, and the deadline for the first round of applications is September 30, 2009.