Education
Morris County
Conservation District
Council Grove, KS
NPS Student Field Day
The District sponsored its 16th Annual Student Field Day Tour on October 7th for 61 fourth graders from Council Grove and Prairie Heights.  Six different stopping points included:  “Wildlife and Wetlands” presented by Brent Konen, Wildlife Manager for the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks; the District demonstrated the “EnviroScape” – a model to of a watershed with the lake serving as the water body - by Katie Miller, Buffer Coordinator; “Soils and Erosion” and demonstration of the Laser Level by Joe Hecht, NRCS; “Recycling” by John Lee - Morris County Recycling/Weed Supervisor; “The Federal Reservoir” by Mike Lowry, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; and “Range Management” by Doug Jackson, NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist from Marion.  The local FFA chapter with Brandon Barr, instructor, helped coordinate the fourth graders to their designated stops.  They set up a skins and furs exhibit, had excellent games to play, took the students through a Nature Trail, and had a quiz afterwards with prizes given away.

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News Release

Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

presents:

"Ag in the Classroom"

Read More




Photography Contest
     To recognize individuals who use photography to capture conservation images effectively and creatively, the Morris County Conservation District is sponsoring its Tenth Annual Photography
competition.  Cash awards will be given, and winning entries will be exhibited at the District’s
Annual Meeting on January 30, 2010. 
The contest is open to amateur photographers (those who earn less than 80% of their income
from photography) who are residents of or attend school in Morris County.  Photos entered must have been taken in this calendar year in Morris County, and may be entered in the following categories:
*Conservation Practices – Photos of volunteers planting trees or of district personnel advising
a farmer could be entered in the category.  Shots of erosion, a polluted stream or other conservation challenges are also appropriate.
*Opportunities in Conservation Education – Entries in this category might show a workshop
for local teachers or a farmer learning about wetlands.  This is also the place to enter your best photos of children taking part in conservation activities.
*Wildlife – In this category, you might show deer running through the woods or a bird nest in
an urban neighborhood.
*Prairie Landscapes – Sunsets, pastures, city parks and other impressive views are appropriate subjects for this category.
*Youth Only – This category is designed for youths up to age 18.  Photos may cover any of the above adult categories.  All photos will be judged as one category.
Each participant may enter up to, but no more than, four photographs.  The photographs will not be returned.  They may be black and white or color, and will be judged together.   Photos should be no larger than 8 X 10 inches and no smaller than 5 X 7 inches.  Photographs should be placed in an 8 X 10 picture page envelope, and they should not be matted.
A 3 X 5 notecard containing the following information must be attached to the back of each photo:  photographer’s name, address and phone number, and category entered.  Negatives need to be enclosed in a protective jacket attached to the back of the picture at time of entry.

One First Place Photo:$25.00 Cash Award
One Second Place Photo:$15.00 Cash Award
One Third Place Photo:$ 7.50  Cash Award
Five Honorable Mentions:Brag Books

Entries are due November 6, 2009, at the Morris County Conservation District Office.  For more information call Jo Bea Titus - Hutchinson at 620-767-5111 Extension 101 or email jobea.titus@ks.nacdnet.net.  Upon acceptance of Cash Awards, all rights and privilege of winning photos and negatives belong to the Morris County Conservation District.  Further photos may be deemed Honorable Mention with appropriate awards given.
Annual Conservation Poster, Limerick, Coloring and Essay Contests
Sponsored by the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts and The Morris County Conservation District.  Subject matter shall be related to the use and/or conservation of natural resources with special emphasis on the conservation of water and soil. The national theme for the 2010 contest is "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats".  Students must follow this theme in order to advance to the national contest as a state finalist.  Entries must be delivered to the Morris County Conservation District Office by 4:30 PM on Friday, December 4, 2009. 

The judges will select county finalists to advance to the State Contest based on the following: Conservation Message 50%, Visual Effectiveness 30%, Originality 10%, and Neatness/Appeal 10% . If your school or organization is interested in having the Morris County Conservation District present a program, please contact Jo Bea Titus-Hutchinson at 620.767.5111 Ext. 101 or email jobea.titus@ks.nacdnet.net to schedule a date

If your school or organization is interested in having the Morris County Conservation District present a program, please contact
Jo Bea Titus-Hutchinson at 620.767.5111 Ext. 101 or email jobea.titus@ks.nacdnet.net to schedule a date.



CRP PRACTICE CP38E NOW AVAILABLE FOR KANSAS UPLAND GAME BIRDS
Manhattan, Kansas, March 14, 2008 --- Bill R. Fuller, State Executive Director of the Kansas USDA Farm Service Agency announced approval of a Kansas project under the Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice CP38E.
The goal of the Kansas Upland Game Birds SAFE project is to improve populations of bobwhite quail, ringneck pheasant, greater prairie chicken, and other grassland associated wildlife by creating nesting/brood-rearing habitat on portions of crop fields.  This SAFE project will establish and maintain 30,100 acres of CRP consisting of diverse native grass and forb cover.  Quail, pheasant and other grassland birds are species that will benefit from SAFE enrollments.  Priority will be given to using SAFE to complement local efforts, and project coordinators expect upland birds should respond within the first year of planting.  Acres enrolled in the SAFE project will also provide water quality and reduce soil erosion.
To be eligible, land must be located anywhere in Kansas, with priority for land located in Kansas CRP Conservation Priority Areas 2, 5 and 8.  In addition, land must meet the basic CRP eligibility requirements.  Acceptable land is cropland that was planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity in four out of six years between 1996 and 2001 and which is also physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity.  Dryland corners of center-pivot irrigation systems may be also be eligible.
Rental rates are based on three predominate soils.  FSA bases rental rates on the average value of dry-land cash rent for the past three years and adjusts rates to reflect the relative productivity of soils within each county.
A one-time up front signing incentive payment of $100 per acre for CRP contracts of 10 years or more will be paid by FSA after eligibility criteria are met and the CRP contract is approved.  A one-time practice incentive payment equal to 40 percent of the eligible installation costs will be paid after the CRP practice is installed, eligible costs are verified and other payment eligibility criteria are met.  FSA will also pay cost-share payments up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of establishing a permanent cover.
Contracts are for not less than 10, nor more than 15 years.  The effective date of the CRP contract is the first day of the month following the month of approval.  In certain circumstances, producers may defer the effective date for up to six months.
Maximum acreage enrollment is 5 acres for fields less than 25 acres, or 20 percent of a field for fields 25 acres or greater, with a maximum acreage of 80 acres per field.  Fields less than 5 acres may be enrolled in their entirety.
Mid-contract management requirements will apply to CP38E enrollments, with activities designed in the conservation plan to maximize the benefits for wildlife throughout the CRP contract period.
Signup for CP38E begins the later of March 17, 2008 or if/when Congress reauthorizes the continuation of CRP at local FSA county offices and runs continuously until the acreage goal of 30,100 is met.
A fact sheet with map of priority areas may be obtained at www.fsa.usda.gov/ks.