Hello Barton County!
Many of us are recovering from the recent wind and hail storm. Here at the district office, we experienced some broken glass, as many of you have. Our hearts go out to those of you who experienced the worst of it, but we are also touched to see neighbors reaching out to neighbors to help with the clean up.
The next time you stop at the Service Center, stop in and say hi and meet a few of the new faces here! The Conservation District welcomed our new Conservation Technician Kristia Zeretzke on July 10. We also are pleased to welcome our NRCS partner Joe Gabel to our office. Most recently a Soil Conservation Technician at the La Crosse office, Joe recently took a position with the area office as a Civil Engineering Technician, and is now calling Great Bend his home office. Brad Younker, the area Civil Engineer, will also be stopping in more often. Of course, everyone may be doing field work when the weather permits, but we are excited to have many hands at your service.
The first round of the State Cost Share program has been ranked and contracts are being sent out this week. We were informed recently that there will be a second round of cost share funding coming to the districts in August, so now is a great time to get applications in for fall projects. The additional dollars are specifically for the following projects: Soil Health, Nutrient Management, Irrigation Water Conservation, Pasture Range Management and Riparian Area Conservation.
Maybe this is the year to try cover crops. The Kansas Association of Conservation Districts is continuing efforts to support conservation districts with outreach assistance Kansas Climate Smart Initiative. Producers can stack dollars they receive through the program with state cost share dollars for select practices they qualify for, making cover crop practices more economical than ever before.
Preparations for Kids Ag Day here in Barton County, and fall gardening classes at the Victory Garden of Barton County are also on the horizon. We look forward to visiting with you soon.
Veronica Coons
Barton County Conservation District Manager
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Did you know?
The conservation district provides educational outreach to classrooms throughout the county. We have a variety of demonstrations and activities that we can bring to students of all ages to spread the word about the importance of conservation in their lives. Teachers - give us a call and let us know how we can help you.
Congratulations to the winner of our 2023 Barton County Fair Open Class Photo Contest
The Barton County Conservation District sponsored the special Open Class photo contest again this year, Conservation Photography. This year, our theme was Pollinators. Entries included photos of bees and butterflies hard at work.
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FSA
The 2023 County Committee Election is coming up and there is still time to submit nominations to FSA for the Local Administrative Area #2. This includes the following townships: Union, Beaver, Cleveland, Cheyenne North, Cheyenne South, Independent, Logan, Lakin West, and Lakin East. Randy Demel has been serving this area for 3 years. Producers living and farming in this area, including minorities, women, and new farmers, are encouraged to consider running for this position.
Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. All nomination forms for the 2023 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by August 1, 2023.
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Did You Know?
The conservation district sells seed for your conservation needs. We maintain relationships with reputable seed dealers that provide customized mixes of native grasses and forbs that comply with prescribed seeding plans for conservation projects administered through the local Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. We verify price, receive seed or make arrangements to have large orders delivered to your location, and we ensure documentation is provided in a timely manner to FSA or NRCS. Proceeds raised through conservation seed sales provide additional funds to the district to expand and improve the way we serve the people of Barton County through outreach to producers, schools and the general public.
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More Cost Share Dollars coming!
As mentioned in our opening letter, a second round of cost share funds is coming our way August 1. Now is a great time to send in your application for assistance with your conservation projects planned for this fall. Attached to this email is an application, a blank W-9, and a list of the eligible practices we will cost share on for this second round of funding. Please have applications in by July 31, as the funds will be on a first-come first-serve basis beginning Aug. 1.
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Kansas Association Of Conservation Districts Announces Partnership
The Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD), in partnership with Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM), is announcing a program to reward producers across Kansas for planting cover crops and implementing other regenerative practices.
In 2022 Kansas had a goal of planting 100,000 acres of cover crops through this program. Kansas producers stepped up and enrolled over that amount. In 2023 the program was expanded to plant 200,000 acres of cover crops as well as other practice activities for producers that have wheat in their rotation.
· Cover Crops:
· New in 2023 $25/acre
· New in 2018 to 2022 $15/acre
· All other $10/acre
· Additional payment options for implementing regenerative practices/activities of no-till or strip-till, live roots year round, fertilizer efficiency and carbon neutrality.
· Single year contracts will continue to be available for producers.
The Barton County Conservation District will assist with implementation of the program at the county level, primarily by assisting producers in the application process.
This program promotes sustainability and regenerative agriculture practices that will help support continuous improvement of the agriculture supply chain. The ultimate goal is to create more value for the crops farmers are growing regeneratively by adding environmental characteristics to the practices that positively impact the environment.
Farmers who implement regenerative practices may see improvements in long-term profitability through reduced input costs and higher yields. By accelerating the adoption of these practices, this grant will help enhance soil health, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses, improve water resources, and support wildlife while providing economic benefits to participating farmers.
For more information about this new opportunity please contact the Barton County Conservation District office.
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We still have a couple of spaces left!
The garden took a hit by the hail, but it's still going strong. We are supplying our food bank with lots of fresh veggies from the demonstration garden. If you are interested in signing up early for a bed next spring, we will begin taking applications September 1. Existing gardeners will get first preference, but there are some beds open that our gardeners have “adopted” temporarily. It’s about time to start seeds for fall, and we will be starting fall garden classes in August. . We will share dates and times on our Facebook page and through the media and this newsletter as soon as dates and times are finalized. We hope your garden is growing well!
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Becoming an Engaged Neighbor
A newsletter we’ve been following is out of the University of Missouri Extension called the Engaged Neighbor Newsletter. David Burton, the Community Development Specialist there has been working hard for the past two or three years to ignite a neighboring movement. Have you found yourself wondering what it would take for your own neighborhood to be more welcoming and ideal? Check out their newsletter: https://mailer.missouri.edu/42N5-KK5F-7D4F6455389AFA046ZPOIWD6D706CAAA12FBCC/cr.aspx
Also, for a great movie about neighbors, watch A Man Named Otto, starring Tom Hanks. The movie is very closely based on the book A Man Named Ove, by Fredrik Backman.
From the newsletter:
Engaged Neighbor Pledge
I pledge to intentionally build connections with neighbors, develop my leadership skills in my neighborhood, and grow my social capital through neighborhood relationships. I will become an engaged neighbor by pursuing these “Engaged Neighbor” principles.
1. Learn and use my neighbors by names and get them together for food and fun.
2. Lend a strong back or a listening ear when needed or requested.
3. Do more front-yard living to be available for conversations and service opportunities.
4. Discard a mentality of busyness or individualistic gain in favor of a mentality of presence and mutual gain in the place where I live.
5. Use neighbor etiquette: be quiet, respect their time, and watch their property.
6. Invest my time and talent through a homeowners or neighborhood association.
7. Express gratitude for those living near you by performing spontaneous kind deeds.
8. Join with neighbors to set priorities and pursue the common good of the neighborhood.
9. Participate in Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept 28. – Oct. 4) to build connections with my neighbors and share the benefits of being an engaged neighbor.
10. Be motivated by love, kindness, and mutual respect for my neighbor. Never turn a neighbor into a special project.
11. Pursue reconciliation, offer forgiveness, and give my neighbors the benefit of the doubt when conflicts arise.
12. Be a continual learner about the value of neighboring by reading or listening to related books and enrolling in MU Extension's Neighboring 101 class.
13. Include neighbors who are overlooked, marginalized, disabled, widowed or lonely.
14. In your neighborhood, focus on what is strong, not wrong; on solutions not problems.
15. Exercise the plus-one approach to neighboring daily.
16. When it comes to being an engaged neighbor: celebrate it, highlight it, and recognize it.
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Contact us:
The Barton County Conservation District is located at the USDA Service Center located at 926 S. Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. We are in a cooperative agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and share an office space. The Great Bend Farm Service Agency office is also located in the same building
Our phone number is (620) 792-3346. We are at extension 303.
Barton County Conservation District Manager
Veronica Coons
bcconservation.dis@gmail.com
NRCS Supervisory District Conservationist
Haley Bond
haley.bond@usda.gov
NRCS Soil Technician
Dan Frieb
dan.frieb@usda.gov