Reminder: Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers Claims Must be Postmarked by March 25

WASHINGTON, February 8, 2013- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades that there are 45 days remaining in the filing period closing March 25, 2013.

Kansas NRCS has announced February 15, 2013, as the cutoff date for applications to be considered for funding under Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), Ogallala Aquifer Initiative (OAI), Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative (LPCI) and EQIP Stream System Restoration.

• Conserving water is the focus of OAI and AWEP which targets 3 Groundwater Management Districts in southwest and southcentral Kansas.
• Renovating shelterbelts and restoring riparian buffer strips to reduce wind erosion and improve water quality is the focus of CCPI.
• Improving lesser prairie-chicken habitat by promoting overall health of grazing lands is the focus of LPCI.
• Stabilizing and protecting banks of streams damaged by erosion in the Phenis Creek-Cottonwood River watershed, located in Lyon County, is the focus of EQIP Stream System Restoration ranking category.

Upcoming Kansas Prescribed Burning Workshops

Fire safety and burning techniques are the priority topics of the upcoming Prescribed Burning Workshops scheduled for January and February.

Unlock the Secrets of the Soil

Got a minute? View a soil health lesson from Ray Archuleta, NRCS Agronomist, as he demonstrates a soil stability test. See for yourself the amazing benefits of healthy, productive soil.