Various criteria looked at when choosing Conservation Award recipients

As the Agriculture Extension Agent it is my honor to serve as the chairman of the County Committee of Conservation Awards, and my duty is to ensure that the public is aware of the recognition given to our producers every year.

Mary Lou Davis Margrave and Randy and Bobby Rich were the recipients of the Kansas Bankers Association Award for Soil Conservation last year.

The purpose of this program is to stimulate a greater interest in the conservation of the agricultural resources of Kansas by giving recognition to those farmers and landowners who have made outstanding progress in the establishment of soil and water conservation on their farms. Included in the awards program are a soil conservation award and a windbreak award, in addition to three new areas of energy conservation, water quality and water conservation.

Points to be considered in selecting soil conservation award winners include (1) use of land according to its capabilities; (2) completeness of conservation plan; (3) balance of farm enterprise; (4) quality of conservation work completed and maintenance of practices; and (5) special practices unique to the farming operations.

The windbreak award considers windbreaks which provide protection from damaging winds for residential (or other structure) areas, livestock, or fields. Windbreaks should be a minimum of three years old; with points of selection including windbreak design, management, location, density, and length.

Basis of selection for the energy conservation award are the efficiency of energy used for buildings, equipment, and operations, production and utilization of energy from renewable sources, and cogeneration and co-utilization of energy.

The water quality award is based on quality of water quality improvement and protection work, adoption of management practices to reduce sediment, nutrient and bacterial contamination of surface water such as buffers, nutrient management plans, grazing systems, and livestock watering systems.

For the water conservation award, points to be considered are improved irrigation management, matching cropping systems with irrigation capacities, adoption of appropriate tillage systems to reduce soil water evaporation and improve soil water storage, and improvement to on-farm water supplies.

Nominations can be made by any person in Bourbon County; the simple forms are available from the Bourbon County Extension Office and must be return by November 2, 2007. The selection committee includes the County Extension Agent, Agriculture; District Conservationist, Chairman of the County Extension Council, Chairman of the District Conservation Board, Chairman of the FSA County Committee, FSA County Executive Director, and the County Key Banker.

Please, if you know of someone who would be deserving of one of these awards, stop by the office to complete a form. It will only take a few seconds; the information wanted is the name of the nominee, their address, and a legal description of the farm.

Awards may be given to individuals, landowner-tenants, family partnerships, or any other combination. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. For more information on these awards, please visit www.oznet.ksu.edu/agronomy/extension.

Please contact the Extension Office with any questions, (620) 223-3720.

Editor’s Note: Delta George is a K-State Research and Extension agriculture and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720.