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Working with Farmers and Ranchers to Implement BMP’s: 

Working with Farmers and Ranchers to Implement BMP’s Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project This project is funded in part by U.S. EPA Section 319 Funds administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Workshop Objectives:: 

Workshop Objectives: 1) Provide a brief overview of KRC’s Clean Water Farm Project and our work with farmers and ranchers 2) Explain how the River Friendly Farm Plan environmental assessment tool to help farmers and ranchers identify water quality issues on their farms, and develop plan and identify the resources to address these issues/problems. 3) Share the lessons we’ve learned in working with farmers to implement demonstration projects and BMP’s 4) Offer farmer and rancher perspective on working with agencies, organizations, and the myriad of programs out there.

Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project: 

Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project Purpose: To improve water quality protection on Kansas farms and ranches while maintaining or improving economic viability.

Information, Education and Implementation of BMP’s: 

Information, Education and Implementation of BMP’s Approximately $1.75 million 319 Funds allocated; Combined with approximately $2.4 million contributed from KRC and farmers Conducted at least 50 farm tours, over 80 workshops, and 150 presentations Approved 122 cost-share projects (since 1995) with $492,489 in CWFP cost-share dollars in over 35 counties and 8 of the 12 major river basins in the state

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Practices approved and implemented include: * Livestock waste management systems (lot redesign, moving lots, winter feeding area management changes, grass filters or buffers, lagoons, etc.) * Livestock grazing systems and alternative watering systems (Fencing ponds, creeks, management intensive grazing systems, alternative watering systems

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* Cropping systems (Extended crop rotations involving cover crops; and/or no till or limited tillage adoption, Conversion of cropland to grass) * On-site household waste systems

CWF-RFFP Offers: 

CWF-RFFP Offers On-farm cost-share projects or demonstrations of good clean water farming practices Tours/Field Days and Workshops Newsletters and publications and website Farmer to farmer transfer of information River Friendly Farm Environmental Assessment

River Friendly Farm Plan: 

River Friendly Farm Plan RFFP is a planning and educational tool that helps farmers and ranchers evaluate their farm or ranch and its impact on the environment.

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Recognized the need for a user friendly self-environmental assessment. The RFFP was developed jointly by the KRC and Kansas State University.

CWF-RFFP: 

CWF-RFFP The River Friendly Farm Plan environmental assessment which is a whole-farm planning approach to on-farm management decisions.

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CWF-RFFP work focuses on farmers and ranchers in WRAPS Watersheds. CWF-RFFP is currently working in 18 to 20 WRAPS Watersheds

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1. Steve Burr, Saline Co. 2. Dan & Mary Howell, Marshall Co. 3. Darrell & Donna Parks, Riley Co. 4. Bruce Spare, Saline Co 5. Herb & Pat Bartel, Marion Co 6. Bruce Buchanon, Rice Co. 7. Linda & Verne Hubalek, Saline Co. 8. David Morrison, Saline Co. 9. Jim Townsend, Dickinson Co. 10. Jim & Joan Vibert, Franklin Co. 11. Ardell Kufahl, Pottawatomie Co. 12. Tim & Denise Noonan, Cowley Co. 13. Rodger Schneider, Saline Co. 14. Steve Suther, Pottawatomie Co. 15. Nancy Vogelsburg, Marshall Co. 16. Alan Hubbard, Pottawatomie Co. 17. Doug & Laura Fortmeyer, Brown Co. 18. Todd Miller, Doniphan Co. 19. Rodney Rice, Brown Co. 20. Mark Boller, Jewell Co. 21. Larry Ketter, Marshall Co. 22. Ken Teske, Pottawatomie Co. 23. Joe Lamborn, Leavenworth Co. 24. Barry Barber, Cowley Co. 25. Tim Kunnard, Miami Co. 26. Rod Peters, Marion Co. 27. Sharon Bean, Mitchell Co. 28. Ron Freund, Coffey Co. 29. Jim & Sue Keating, Ottawa Co. 30. Joe Vogelsberg, Marshall Co. 31. Russ & Pat Brehm, Dickinson Co. 32. Frank Miles, Nemaha Co. 33. Bill Lynn, Labette Co. 34. Calvin Adams, Mitchell Co. * Shaded, colored or cross- hatched areas represent WRAPS watersheds. Farmers Approved for CWF-RFFP Cost-Share 1995-2001

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1. Eric Babbitt, Cherokee Co. 2. Lee Bigham, Marshall Co. 3. Don Bonjour, Nemaha Co. 4. Steve Frank, Pott. Co 5. Mike Nickels, Jefferson Co 6. Brian & Rene Stinson, Lyon Co. 7. Rodney Strahm, Nemaha Co. 8. Brad Windholz, Ellsworth Co. 9. John Bauman, Anderson Co. 10. Erma Eastwood, Allen Co. 11. Bruce Hasenkamp, Nemaha Co. 12. Alan Haverkamp, Nemaha Co. 13. Ken Reed, Lyon Co. 14. Stan Vopata, Wabaunsee Co. 15. Rick Chafee, Clay Co. 16. Kenneth Ebert, Pott Co. 17. Anthony Gude, Marshall Co. 18. Jackie Keller, Shawnee Co. 19. Orville Miller, Reno Co. 20. George Sanneman, Clay Co. 21. Robert Steinlage, Nemaha Co. 22. Melinda Budde, Harvey Co. 23. Eric Friedrichs, Marshall Co. 24. Charles Noll, Jefferson Co. 25. John Rempe, Nemaha Co. 26. Margie Stewart, Geary Co. 27. Joe Shaugnessy, Marshall Co. 28. Mike & Pat Wulf, Pott. Co. 29. Don Ehrsam, Nemaha Co. 30. Bart Hall, Johnson Co. 31. Curtis & Kristine Steenbock, Clay Co. 32. Mark Toeves, McPherson Co. 33. Larry Blume, Pott. Co. 34. Ken King, Reno Co. 35. Doug Brackenbury, Pott. Co. 36. Norm Brackenbury, Pott. Co. 37. Scott Brackenbury, Pott. Co. 38. Marian & Shirley Reece, Cowley Co. 39. Sam Sanders, Reno Co. 40. Larry & Madonna Sorrell, Cloud Co. 41. Mel & Joyce Williams, Jefferson Co. 42. Eugene Dalinghaus, Nemaha Co. * Shaded, colored or cross- hatched areas represent WRAPS watersheds. 43. Jennifer & Brian Chisum, Shawnee Co. 44. Charles Lange, Atchison Co. 45. Max Menefee, Miami Co. 46. Robert Sellers, Marion Co. 47. David Zeit, Brown Co. 48. Tim Harper, Marshall Co. 49. Mark Theis, Leavenworth Co. 50. John Bradley, Douglas Co. 51 Greg Carter, Neosho County 52. Michael Scheer, Washington Co. Farmers Approved for CWF-RFFP Cost-Share 2001-2004

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1. Perry Beachy, Reno Co. 2. Dennis Darbyshire, Lyon Co. 3. Ron Dunbar, Franklin Co. 4. Bob Greenwood, Dickinson Co 5. David Heiens, Dickinson Co 6. Rod Simmer, Marshall Co. 7. Dale Strickler, Cloud Co. 8. Joe Zarybnicky, Washington Co. Larry Abeldt, Dickinson Co. 10. R. Henderson/D. Winter, Osage Co. 11. Steve Mashek, Bourbon Co. 12. Doug Mosher, Miami Co. 13. Don Mosher, Miami Co. 14. Kerry O’Brien, Bourbon Co. 15. John Rempe, Nemaha Co. 16. Henry Schrimer, Jackson Co. 17. Gerald Schlereth, Hodgeman Co. 18. Nancy Vogelsberg-Busch, Marshall Co. 19. Stan Vopata, Wabaunsee Co. * Shaded, colored or cross- hatched areas represent WRAPS watersheds. Farmers Approved for CWF-RFFP Cost-Share In 2005-2006

River Friendly Farm Plan: 

River Friendly Farm Plan RFFP : *Helps the farmer or rancher assess the environmental strengths and weaknesses on the farm * Helps identify family and farm goals, problems or potential problems * Helps establish priorities for a plan of action to solve these problems

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The RFFP consists of a notebook with questions designed to help farmers evaluate and score the status of -soil conservation - nutrient, pest, and livestock waste management - farmstead (water supply, wastewater system, household and farmstead waste management - quality of life section involves the whole family

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$250 incentive payment for completion of RFFP environmental assessment Cost-share up to $5000 per farmer/rancher is available on competitive basis to implement part of their action plan from RFFP.

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Farmer must match cost-share grant Can be used in conjunction with other sources of cost-share funds. State funds can match CWFP funds

Lessons Learned: 

Lessons Learned Farmers need to recognize the problem or a threat of a problem before they will take action.

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2) Changes must be economically feasible or beneficial. CWF-RFFP focuses primarily on management-based solutions rather than structural solutions.

Between 2000-2004: 

Between 2000-2004 CWFP Funds for 30 completed projects $106,750 Federal EQIP Dollars for same farmers: $103,868 (Only 11 of the 30 rec’d EQIP $$) State SCC $$ and other: $68,912 Farmer Cooperators Out of pocket: $306,685

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3) Barriers are also cultural or social in terms of why farmers do not adopt some practices.

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4) Farmer to farmer transfer of information often works better than other “expert” sources.

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Kansas Rural Center Box 133 Whiting, Ks. 66552 785-873-3431 ksrc@rainbowtel.net www.kansasruralcenter.org