First-time conservation enrollees with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) can renew contracts for five more years.

Farmers and ranchers with expiring CSP contracts have until Sept. 12, 2014 to renew, according to the USDA.

CSP farmers and ranchers are conservation stewards of the land. They take special care to improve water quality and quantity, soil health and wildlife habitat. More than 58 million acres were in enrolled in the program following its launch in 2009.

The USDA will begin accepting applications for renewal on July 11, 2014. For more information, please visit the Conservation Stewardship webpage.