ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
Farmers in the Marion Reservoir Watershed can learn how nutrient management can save them money, benefit lakes and streams and help them become eligible for the new Conservation Security Program at a meeting planned for Friday.
Marion County Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Marion County Extension are planning a nutrient management planning workshop from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Marion City Building, 203 N. Third, Marion.
Lunch will be provided by the cities of Hillsboro, Marion and Peabody. Anyone interested in eating lunch should call the Marion County Extension Office at 620-382-2325 by 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14.
Workshop topics will include:
n agronomic practices, led by Dan Devlin, an environmental specialist with Kansas State University;
n erosion control and farm bill update led by Lyle Frees, an NRCS water quality specialist;
n buffer and filter strips led by Jon Ungerer, state buffer coordinator with NRCS;
n water quality within Marion Reservoir, led by Neal Whitaker, park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Marion Reservoir.
Farmers within the watershed area can have the expense of implementing a nutrient-management plan offset through the 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grant, Marion Reservoir Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Project.
Nutrient-management practices have been progressively implemented throughout Marion County. The 319 Nonpoint Source Grant has paid up to 70 percent of the average costs on practices implemented.
The application for assistance is a single page.
Producers in the watershed also could be eligible for additional funding provided through other state programs. Sources of cost share for producers outside of the watershed are also available to help off-set the costs of plan implementation.
