Agricultural Lease Program

Portions of project lands are leased by competitive bid for agricultural purposes. The agricultural leasing program allows the Corps of Engineers to manage large acreage of project land at a minimal cost to the government, while providing some economic gain. Through leases, the Corps is able to accomplish many resource management and protection activities that are needed to insure long-term productivity of the lands involved.

More than forty agricultural leases provide vegetative control in parks and low-density areas. Each year a certain number of these are advertised for lease to the highest bidder. The average length of a lease is usually 5 years. Two of the primary purposes for the leasing program are to benefit wildlife and soil conservation through sound agriculture practices. Vegetation and agricultural crops are manipulated to achieve this purpose. Availability and special lease conditions are provided by the project to the District Office, which provide the advertisement and lease documents. Inspections are made periodically to verify compliance with the terms of the lease.

For 2004, 10 leases will be available for bid. Notice of Advertisements will be available at the beginning of 2004. Anyone interested in receiving bid packets should contact the Project Office at 785-597-5144 or e-mail at perry.lake@usace.army.mil and request that they be added to the mailing list.