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Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project secures fundingThe Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) notified the Kansas Rural Center of continued funding of the Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project (CWF-RFFP). The funding comes from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 Grant Funds and is administered by KDHE. Currently, the CWF-RFFP is in year 4 of a 4-year grant from KDHE, which will end in March 2009. The newly approved funds are part of KDHE's new funding process built around WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) watersheds, using EPA 319 funds and state water plan funds to address agriculture related water quality issues in key watersheds around the state. KRC will receive EPA 319 funds to work within up to 18 specific WRAPS watersheds from early 2009 into early 2010. Working with local stakeholder teams and WRAPS Coordinators, KRC submitted proposals to individual watersheds to bring KRC's "services" to the watersheds. KRC has two related but separate projects--the CWF-RFFP and a Grazing and Forages Education Project that will be merged under the new grant to offer more efficient service to farmers and ranchers. The project will continue to offer one-on-one consultations to farmers and ranchers using the River Friendly Farm Plan environmental assessment and grazing management and planning tools, to create whole farm plans and grazing management plans for individual farms and ranches. The project will also offer a variety of educational opportunities including regular tele-conference calls on grazing topics, workshops or presentations on a variety of grazing and cropping systems subjects, and farm tours or field days featuring best management practices on CWF-RFFP farms, as well as coverage for Rural Papers and local papers. The project offers $250 incentive payments for completion of the River Friendly Farm environ-mental assessment within specific watersheds. The RFFP is a self-assessment tool a producer can use to evaluate the environmental strengths and weaknesses of his or her farming operation. The planning process includes identification of needed and workable management changes and available financial and technical resources to plan and implement those changes. Limited cost-share funds will also be available within specific WRAPS watersheds for demonstrations. KRC will work with these watersheds to recruit and develop these demonstrations. For more information, contact Mary Fund, at KRC at 785-873-3431, or ksrc@rainbowtel.net. 10/13/08 Date: 10/7/08
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