| Franklin County Conservation District |
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FARMERS OFFERED INCENTIVES TO PLANT COVER CROPS
No-till on the Plains and Upfield, the parent company of Country Crock®, have partnered to provide a cover crop cost-share program for farmers in eastern Kansas (including Franklin) and the western counties of Missouri. The sustainability initiative will provide $20 per acre reimbursement to producers to plant cover crops on acres previously not planted to cover crops.
The partnership between No-till on the Plains and Country Crock® aims to incentivize the use of cover crops in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The program is ideal for growers wanting to try cover crops or add acres not previously planted to a cover crop. Participants will be offered $20 per acre on their qualified acres. A map of the eligible counties and the contract can be found on the No-till on the Plains website.
“This program offers producers the opportunity to try cover crops without as much financial risk”, says Aaron Sawyers Executive Director for No-till on the Plains. Producers must provide USDA Form-578 showing the intended acres have not previously been planted to covers. Farmers will also be required to provide a receipt for seed purchase before the reimbursement will be provided. Cover crops must be planted from April 1 through November 8, 2024 to participate in this year’s program. Visit notill.org or call Executive Director, Aaron Sawyers, at (785) 210-4549 for more information.
The partnership between No-till on the Plains and Country Crock® aims to incentivize the use of cover crops in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. The program is ideal for growers wanting to try cover crops or add acres not previously planted to a cover crop. Participants will be offered $20 per acre on their qualified acres. A map of the eligible counties and the contract can be found on the No-till on the Plains website.
“This program offers producers the opportunity to try cover crops without as much financial risk”, says Aaron Sawyers Executive Director for No-till on the Plains. Producers must provide USDA Form-578 showing the intended acres have not previously been planted to covers. Farmers will also be required to provide a receipt for seed purchase before the reimbursement will be provided. Cover crops must be planted from April 1 through November 8, 2024 to participate in this year’s program. Visit notill.org or call Executive Director, Aaron Sawyers, at (785) 210-4549 for more information.
Producer input requested for future of water plan funding
On January 24, 2024, Governor Laura Kelly charged the Kansas Water Authority (KWA) to develop a strategic implementation plan, including funding, based on the five guiding principles of the Kansas Water Plan. Governor Kelly’s request included initial recommendations for a large-scale, long-term investment framework before the 2025 Legislative Session. These recommendations should include policy changes, ways to improve state capacity and water management, measurable goals and timelines, and include input from various state and local stakeholders.
Kansas residents are encouraged to participate in the second round of Local Consult meetings to discuss the implementation of the Kansas Water Plan.
Through facilitated group discussions, your input can be shared on the following:
Kansas residents are encouraged to participate in the second round of Local Consult meetings to discuss the implementation of the Kansas Water Plan.
Through facilitated group discussions, your input can be shared on the following:
- Updated investment scenarios based on feedback heard in round one.
- What criteria are most important as we evaluate investment strategies to achieve the Plan’s long-term goals around aquifers, reservoirs and water quality.
- Setting objectives and identifying what Kansans think are reasonable actions to achieve them; and
- Preferred revenue sources to meet the objectives.
These meeting are the perfect opportunity to remind the public, elected officials and the Kansas Water Authority of the huge role conservation districts play in the implementation of the Kansas Water Plan. Funding administered through your local conservation district is appropriated from the Kansas Water fund. The outcomes of these local consult meetings will have a direct impact on your local conservation disticts. Remember most of the conservation disticts have been in place since the late 1930's, and early 1940's so they have a proven record of successful and quality conservation delivery.
- Conservation districts are in place to administer any education efforts and implement conservation initiaties to improve all of the categories set for discussion by the KWA during this planning process; aquifers, reservoirs, water quality; and education/outreach.
- Kansas conservation districts have a successful technical partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers in their communities.
- Conservation districts also have a sound financial management system in place through KDA-Division of Conservation to administer any education efforts and practice incentive/cost share payments directed at addressing priority resource concerns down to HUC 12 hydrologic areas.
- Most importantly conservation districts have a presence in every county of the state. Districts know the residents in their county and have their trust.
New Climate Smart Initiative available for 2024 Cover Crop Acres
Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) is a nation-wide, farmer-led collaboration between the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff, National Corn Growers Association and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that assists farmers in implementing and maintaining soil health practices. Within Kansas, the project is led by the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, the Kansas Soil Health Alliance with support from Kansas Soybean and Kansas Corn. Technical assistance for the Farmers for Soil Health project is being provided through Heartland Soil Services.
FSH has multiple avenues to assist growers in introducing cover crops into existing crop rotations. There are several financial incentive options, access to a marketplace connecting farmers to supply chain partners, and local technical assistance to aid in transitioning acres to cover crops and other soil health practices. “This program is unique because it was built by farmers for farmers, and it assists with the cost and learning curve of adopting cover crops,” says Ben West, executive director for Farmers for Soil Health. “We built flexibility into the timing, allowing farmers to enroll their fields before or after planting cover crops.”
KACD has compiled all the program details on their Farmers For Soil Health | Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (kacd.net) website. Producers can self enroll online at FSH Enrollment (dtn.com) or they may request technical assistance through local technical service providers at Heartland Soil Services or their local conservation district.
FSH has multiple avenues to assist growers in introducing cover crops into existing crop rotations. There are several financial incentive options, access to a marketplace connecting farmers to supply chain partners, and local technical assistance to aid in transitioning acres to cover crops and other soil health practices. “This program is unique because it was built by farmers for farmers, and it assists with the cost and learning curve of adopting cover crops,” says Ben West, executive director for Farmers for Soil Health. “We built flexibility into the timing, allowing farmers to enroll their fields before or after planting cover crops.”
KACD has compiled all the program details on their Farmers For Soil Health | Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (kacd.net) website. Producers can self enroll online at FSH Enrollment (dtn.com) or they may request technical assistance through local technical service providers at Heartland Soil Services or their local conservation district.
Kansas Association of Conservation Districts to Celebrate 80 years
We are excited to announce that attendee registration for the 80th Annual Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Convention is now open! You're invited to attend and discover the conservation efforts happening in Kansas. Since 1944, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) has been a vital link, fostering essential partnerships among federal, state, and local entities dedicated to the responsible use and protection of our state's natural resources. These collaborations have proven to be highly effective and mutually beneficial, enabling the sharing of space, equipment, and expertise.
Join us as we celebrate Kansas Conservation, Growing for 80 Years at the Annual Convention with breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and the conservation symposium, all designed to equip you with the latest information to better and expand conservation across Kansas! See the complete convention agenda, symposium details and register online before the early bird deadline ends.
Join us as we celebrate Kansas Conservation, Growing for 80 Years at the Annual Convention with breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and the conservation symposium, all designed to equip you with the latest information to better and expand conservation across Kansas! See the complete convention agenda, symposium details and register online before the early bird deadline ends.
Annual conservation meeting and farmer appreciation dinner will return to evening event in 2025
Kansas Association of Conservation Districts publishes quarterly newsletter for producers
KACD.net is full of information regarding technical and financial assistance available across the state through local conservation districts and various partners. Information on the website includes links to the quarterly newsletters, programs and initiatives, natural resource concerns, education, technical and financial assistance and many additional resources. KACD has done a tremendous job of highlighting the variety of programs and services offered across the state to help producers and conservation districts identify and address conservation programs and practices to help conserve natural resources for the future.
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Your tax-deductible contribution will make a difference in general operations and public information and education programs of the Franklin County Conservation District focused on promoting the conservation of natural resources for the future. Click on the forms above to learn more about each contribution type.
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Healthy Crops Start with Healthy Soil
Improve and protect your soil with farmer-to-farmer connections and resources available on the Kansas Soil Health Alliance website. Click on the Soil Health logo to the right to view the calendar of upcoming soil health events. |
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In the event of a Federal Government shutdown the Franklin County Conservation District
will still be available to assist our customers!
We are funded with county and state dollars NOT federal dollars. We are fortunate to have a partnership with NRCS which allows us office space in the USDA Service Center. However if a shutdown were to occur conservation district staff is not allowed in the USDA Service Center while NRCS and FSA are shutdown. Conservation District staff would be available, from a remote site via email if a shutdown were to occur. Our email address is [email protected] we will try to leave additional information on our voicemail to assist producers with reaching us as well. Please use 785.241.7201 to reach the Franklin County Conservation District voicemail directly.
will still be available to assist our customers!
We are funded with county and state dollars NOT federal dollars. We are fortunate to have a partnership with NRCS which allows us office space in the USDA Service Center. However if a shutdown were to occur conservation district staff is not allowed in the USDA Service Center while NRCS and FSA are shutdown. Conservation District staff would be available, from a remote site via email if a shutdown were to occur. Our email address is [email protected] we will try to leave additional information on our voicemail to assist producers with reaching us as well. Please use 785.241.7201 to reach the Franklin County Conservation District voicemail directly.