Does water run downhill?

The abundant rain of recent days and weeks has put an ultimate end to the drought of 2011.

If conditions are dry again this summer, we at least will get to start over on a "new" drought period (if, in fact, a drought is repeated). Lord willing, we will miss out on any hot or dry flashbacks to 2011.

Rainfall during the first three weeks of March alone has been nearly 7 inches at Fort Scott compared to a long-term average total of only 3.26 inches for the entire month. (We recorded only 2 inches of rain in March 2011.)

Farm ponds, lakes and subsoil moisture should be generally replenished and ready for the onslaught of summer 2012.

Hopefully, some of those pastures that we watched gradually disappear through last year's drought will make a good comeback with some welcome spring grazing.

Another early spring occurrence in recent years has been a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. That is true again this year as the current enrollment period No. 43 runs through Friday, April 6, 2012.

This enrollment period provides landowners and operators the opportunity to offer eligible land for inclusion in the CRP.

This program is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits.

Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to control soil erosion, improve water and air quality, and develop wildlife habitat.

In return, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual rental payments, as well as cost-share assistance for establishment of the needed wildlife-friendly cover.

Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Accepted contracts for CRP sign-up 43 will begin on Oct. 1, 2012.

There are three basic requirements for CRP eligibility: 1) land must have been planted or considered planted to an annually seeded crop in four of the six years from 2002 through 2007 (and CRP does count); 2) the field must have been owned or operated by the applicable offerer for at least 12 months prior to the end of the sign-up period; and 3) the designated field must have a weighted average erodibility index (EI) of 8 or greater, or be expiring CRP. The erodibility index qualifier does not have to be met if the acreage offered is currently in a CRP contract set to expire on Sept. 30, 2012.

Anyone interested in investigating their CRP options on a farm will need to visit their local FSA office in time to finish the needed evaluation and offer completion.

FSA staff continues to advise producers to call ahead so as much preliminary work can be done as possible.

In addition, we are using a computer program to analyze each field for erosion factors, soil types, maximum rental rates, etc. which has been somewhat erratic in functionality -- i.e. it has not been available every day through the sign-up.

It will be best not to wait until the very end of the enrollment period to get started on a possible offer. Our office has some clear and concise fact sheet information concerning CRP.

Contact us if you are interested in receiving this info, or visit the following website for more details: www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.

Bourbon County producers should call (620) 223-1880 for scheduling an appointment, or stop by 1515 S. Judson in Fort Scott.