News
USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023
04/17/2023 02:00 PM EDT
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today and running through May 26, 2023.
Communications & Public Affairs
March 6, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Rep. Jim Grego
Office: (405) 557-7381
Grego Named Conservation Legislator of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, this week was named the 2022 Conservation Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.
In the award recognition ceremony, it was noted there are many legislators passionate about conservation with each being vital to the success of private lands and voluntary conservation in Oklahoma.
"However, there are a few legislators that go above and beyond to preserve Oklahoma’s soil and water. Representative Grego is always willing to meet with our district directors to discuss natural resource concerns and how we can best preserve the soil and water of Oklahoma. Personally, Representative Grego has implemented many conservation practices on his own cattle operation and has participated in both the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program," awardees noted.
Grego has been a cooperator with the Latimer County Conservation District for over 34 years. He served for 23 years on the Latimer County Conservation District board, including 20 of those years as chairman. He also served as the Area V Commissioner from 2010 to 2015.
The association acknowledged that during his time in the Legislature, Grego has helped provide a provision that allows for conservation districts to purchase feral swine traps and was instrumental in providing funding for the Office of Geographic Information.
"Conservation of our Oklahoma natural resources is of the utmost importance to me and to those who I serve in the Oklahoma House of Representatives," Grego said. "It's an honor to receive this recognition from a group of my peers. I guarantee I will continue my efforts toward best practices of preserving Oklahoma's soil, water and other resources."
-END-
Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of representatives. His district includes Latimer County and part of Pittsburg County.
As a result of participation in the Mentimeter survey during the 2022 state and area meetings, we would love your participation in designing and presenting the 2023 State Meeting. Please complete the form linked below and submit it by COB on/before January 3, 2023. All selected proposals will receive 1 free state meeting registration. Selections will be made by members of the OACD State Meeting Planning Committee. You will be notified by January 16th via email about the status of your proposal. If you have problems completing the form, please contact Sarah Blaney at sarahblaney@okconservation.org.
*The 85th OACD State Meeting will be held February 26th - 28th at the Embassy Suites Northwest in Oklahoma City.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sarah Blaney | Exec.Director Phone: 517-763-8609
Email :sarahblaney@okconservation.org C.A.R.E Program
Conservation Agriculture Reach Everyone
[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 19, 2022] – The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts is proud to share a new short film on their Conservation Agriculture Reach Everyone program. OACD, The Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project (OBHRPI) and Texas Agriforestry small farmers and ranchers are partnering to increase participation of NRCS programs in agriculture and conservation among socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers.
The purpose is to increase the number of farmers / ranchers participating in conservation planning and programs in order to improve soil health, water quality and the viability of working lands. The CARE project places an emphasis on assisting socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers/ranchers. Working with this targeted group to expand their knowledge of innovative technology, soil health and invasive species eradication will assist them in sustaining their farms. The project will build the capacity of participating organizations to develop and implement conservation projects and strengthen the technical capacity of conservation districts to assist in both conservation planning and Farm Bill Conservation Programs.
Our goal is to raise $500,000 to regenerate 7153 acres across Oklahoma.
We invite you to view the film as well as donate @ https://www.okconservation.org/care
News Release
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. #200
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.521.2384
www.conservation.ok.gov
Today, the Emergency Drought Commission met and directed an additional $5 million be added to the Emergency Drought Cost-Share program.
This is in addition to the current $3 million in emergency drought cost-share funds already being made available to all 77 Oklahoma counties via distribution by local Conservation Districts. Monday’s actions are contingent on approval by Governor Kevin Stitt.
The significant changes made on Monday to the current program include:
Making the Emergency Drought Cost-Share program available retroactively for pond clean out and new rural water tap projects started on or after June 11, 2022.
Allowing producers of all livestock used to financially support a family to apply.
Increasing maximum payments for pond clean outs to $2,500 for small sized ponds, $5,000 for medium sized ponds and $7,500 for large sized ponds.
Removing the requirement for drought condition certification for individual properties.
The Emergency Drought Commission consists of Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Oklahoma Water Resources Board Director Julie Cunningham and Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director Trey Lam.
“The Emergency Drought Commission took another step to assist livestock producers in Oklahoma,” Lam said. “The additional $5 million allocated to Conservation Districts will continue to be focused on water resources. Districts are currently taking applications and ranking them for funding. Once the applications are in, the Drought Commission will be better informed as to the total statewide needs and whether additional allocations need to be made for specific geographic areas or practices. I anticipate that this is only a step in a series of funding allocations. One stipulation with this additional funding is that it be eligible for producers who have already cleaned out ponds or installed new rural water taps. I also want to encourage all livestock owners to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to apply for assistance with grazing losses, along with hay and water transportation assistance. Federal funds are available to help cover these losses and expenses.”
Those projects that are eligible in the Cost-Share program include: water well drilling, pumping facilities, pipeline, pasture tap, watering facilities, heavy use area protection, cover crop planting, forage and biomass planting (excluding Bermuda grass) and pond clean out.
“We are thankful for the $20 million in additional funds appropriated to the Emergency Drought Commission by the legislature and approved by Governor Stitt,” said Secretary Arthur, the Emergency Drought Commission Chair. “As devastating effects of the current drought are ongoing, the commission will continue meeting to strategically allocate funds in a way that both addresses the immediate needs of producers across the state while also supporting sustainable solutions which will assist us in combating similar crises in the future.”
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report shows 100 percent of Oklahoma in some level of drought, including 99.66 percent in Severe to Exceptional Drought. More specifically, 85.65 is in Extreme to Exceptional Drought compared to only 2.87 percent just three months ago. The last time Oklahoma had a full 100 percent of the state in some form of drought was March 26, 2013, according to State Climatologist Gary McManus.
The Emergency Drought Commission will meet again in the upcoming weeks.
Following are more details on this program:
Size of program: Allocate a current total of about $103,000 to each County (not District) – hold back reserve to be allocated to Districts with greatest demand.
Cost share rate: Maximum 80%
Maximum payment: Not to exceed $7,500
Allocation Period: Oct. 3 – Dec. 2, 2022
Review/Rank Applications – Select Applicants – 60 days
Establish Completion Deadline and Develop Extension Protocol
Implement Practices: Begins no later than Dec. 2, 2022. Program will be completed by Dec. 2, 2023.
Reallocate any remaining funds to Districts with highest demand: No later than Dec. 12, 2022
Producers can contact their local Conservation District for more information on the program: To find your local Conservation District, please go to https://conservation.ok.gov/conservation-district-directory/
News Release
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. #200
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.521.2384
www.conservation.ok.gov
Oklahoma City – Today, Oct. 3, 2022, in their regular meeting, Commissioners of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission unanimously approved a program in which emergency drought cost-share funds are being made available to all 77 Oklahoma counties via distribution by local Conservation Districts.
Implementation of the program through the state’s 84 Conservation Districts is set to begin in the upcoming days.
Projects included in the program are water well drilling, pumping facilities, pipeline, pasture tap, watering facilities, heavy use Area protection, cover crop planting, forage and biomass planting (excluding Bermuda grass) and pond clean out.
On Friday, Sep. 30. 2022, the Emergency Drought Commission (EDC) -- Blayne Arthur, Julie Cunningham and Trey Lam -- met Friday and unanimously approved a program proposed by the OCC which will distribute the $3 million appropriated by the State Legislature and approved by Governor Stitt in House Bill 2959 to Oklahoma ag producers.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report showed just under 100 percent of the state (99.88) in Moderate to Exceptional Drought, including 94 percent in Severe to Exceptional drought.
Gary Crawley is the Area V Commissioner for OCC, the OCC Commission Chair and a producer in Savanna (about 10 miles southwest of McAlester) in Pittsburg County. The bulk of his area is in Extreme to Exceptional drought.
“It started when the hay was short, then the grass was depleted and now the ponds are dry or down to puddles,” Crawley said Monday. “It’s actually a carryover from last fall and winter and then it lingered into spring and really clamped down on us in the summer. The liquidation of the cattle herds is so tough. I’ve got one place that is completely dry, there’s no grass, no nothing, it looks like a desert. Producers are feeling this throughout Oklahoma and we are confident that this program will help bring some short and long-term relief.”
Blayne Arthur, Secretary of Agriculture and EDC Chair, has shared her confidence in the program as well: “The emergency drought cost-share program will allow these funds to be distributed in a way that allows for each district to use the funds to best address the needs of the farmers and ranchers in the local area.”
Julie Cunningham, Oklahoma Water Resources Board Executive Director, said “We are committed to putting the funds to use as quickly as possible” and the OCC and District staff are prepared to work diligently to ensure help arrives to those in need across the state.
“The Oklahoma Conservation Commission continues to be inspired by how our farmers and ranchers have come together to mitigate the disastrous impacts of Oklahoma’s drought,” said Trey Lam, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director. “I appreciate the leadership of Secretary Arthur and Executive Director Cunningham in tackling these difficult issues.”
Following are more details on this program:
Size of program: Allocate $33,000 to each County (not District) – hold back reserve to be allocated to Districts with greatest demand.
Cost share rate: Maximum 80%
Maximum payment: Not to exceed $7,500
Projected Timeline of Program: Guidelines were approved in the Oct. 3, 2022 Conservation Commission meeting initiating the start of the program.
Conservation Districts receive program guidelines and training Oct. 3-4, 2022 and then will begin implementation.
Overall Program Start Date – Oct. 3, 2022 (Guidelines approved at Commission meeting)
Allocation Period: Oct. 3 – Dec. 2, 2022
Certify drought conditions exist on individual properties – Review/Rank Applications – Select Applicants – 60 days
Establish Completion Deadline and Develop Extension Protocol
Implement Practices: Begins no later than Dec. 2, 2022. Program will be completed by Dec. 2, 2023.
Reallocate any remaining funds to Districts with highest demand: No later than Dec. 12, 2022
In the upcoming days, producers can contact their local Conservation District for more information on the program: To find your local Conservation District, please go to https://conservation.ok.gov/conservation-district-directory/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: press@gov.ok.gov
GOVERNOR STITT DELIVERS DROUGHT RELIEF TO FARMERS
OKLAHOMA CITY (September 12, 2022) — Today, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order to deliver drought relief to farmers in western Oklahoma, and other parts of the state hit hard by the current drought conditions.
“I will always do everything in my power to support Oklahoma’s great farmers and ranchers who work hard every day to feed our state and our nation,” said Gov. Stitt. “Whether it’s inflation or drought conditions, our agriculture producers have been dealing with some tough challenges this year so I am glad that with the help of the legislature we can help provide this relief.”
“I am always incredibly appreciative of the Governor’s support of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. Oklahoma agriculture producers have seen extreme drought conditions throughout this year and livestock producers in particular are struggling with lack of pasture, hay and water,” Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. “I look forward to working with the Emergency Drought Commission to allocate funds that will provide long term solutions to farmers and ranchers to help mitigate the impact of drought now and into the future.”
Read Governor Stitt’s executive order here.
August 8, 2022
On August 5th, four Oklahoma CARE military veteran Champions traveled to SAVE Farm in Riley, KS. Rich Auer (Nowata CCD), Steve Easom (Cleveland CCD), Kwame Mboya (Oklahoma CCD), & Phillip Mitchell (Seminole CCD) along with Program Manager Jean Lam, spent the day touring, learning, & experiencing the hospitality of the SAVE Farm & staff.
SAVE Farm: Servicemember Agricultural Vocation Education, is a “Pathway to Agriculture.” The SAVE Farm is a teaching and healing center for all with a desire in agriculture with an emphasis on transitioning service members and veterans.
OACD would like to express appreciation to the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts for their partnership and facilitating this meeting between Oklahoma military veterans and the SAVE team. KACD organized for the CARE visit to coincide with the Kansas Land Improvement Contractor Association’s field day, highlighting the terracing and tiling work recently completed on the property. This gathering emphasized the commitment all present organizations have to the partnerships that better the lives of military veterans and their families. The Nature Conservancy of Kansas
For additional information about the curriculum, enrollment, and the work being done by the SAVE farm please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/www.thesavefarm.org
Oklahoma's Flood Control Dams: Reducing fear from flooding
Oftentimes the most important words after a disaster are those you didn’t have to use such as death/injuries, starting over, rebuilding, and others.
That’s where the protection of Oklahoma’s network of 2,107 flood control dams and voluntary conservation practices once again shined. The presence of 50 such dams prevented an estimated $2 million in flood damages just from the May 4-6 storms according to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Office.
Chris Stoner, Oklahoma NRCS State Conservation Engineer said, “Some areas got hit very hard and field crews were hampered in inspecting some of the dams by high water and washed-out roads. However, the reports to date show very little damage to the dams or spillways.”
“Dam Safety Awareness Day” is recognized on May 31 annually in memory of the 2,220 people who lost their lives in the 1889 South Fork Dam failure near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. However, Oklahomans have a year-round respect for the upstream flood control dams.
Trey Lam, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), said, “Sudden intense rainfall events hit Oklahoma every year. For over six decades Small Flood Control dams have successfully held back flood waters, preventing loss of property and lives.”
Lam stressed that, “Conservation Districts and USDA/NRCS partners are the front line in keeping these dams working correctly. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission remains dedicated to extending the benefits of the flood control dams for decades to come.”
This May, some of the hardest working dam clusters received over 8.5 inches of rain during this three-day period, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet weather network:
Cane Creek in Okmulgee and Muskogee counties had 21 dams that prevented $908,000 in infrastructure damage.
Okfuskee Tribs Watershed in Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties included 29 dams that prevented $1,038,000 in infrastructure damage.
Some local landowners in the area reported more than 14” in that three-day span.
The 2,107 flood control dams constructed by local conservation districts with the assistance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provided almost $6 million in benefits during this 3-day period. These benefits were the damage to crops, roads, bridges, houses and other property that would have occurred had the dams and associated conservation practices not been constructed.
Forty-six DamWatch alerts were issued during this span indicating impending auxiliary spillway flows. DamWatch is an excellent web-based tool to obtain real-time rainfall data and provided a means for communicating real time information on specific dams to those responsible for the dams.
NRCS and conservation district staffs were in the field reviewing the performance of the dams and identifying potential issues during and soon after the storms.
Reports verified that 44 auxiliary spillways had flowed and six dams actually overtopped during this storm event. Interestingly, Stoner noted, “For all but two of the sites, this was the first time they ever flowed through their auxiliary spillways.”
Several NRCS and OCC personnel as well as Conservation District personnel gathered information and/or contributed to the reports regarding these storms.
Stoner said, “The dams continue to perform and protect the lives and property of Oklahomans. The fact that six dams overtopped, speaks to the severity of these storms, but also to the resilience of our flood control infrastructure. Maintenance on these dams performed by the local conservation districts and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission is a key factor in the lack of damage as most of these dams saw more runoff than they had since they were built in the 1960s and 70s. This also points to the continued need to stay diligent in these duties. I have heard many times ‘Why is that dam so tall; the water will never get that high.’ It can and it did.”
The storms also highlighted the critical need for operation and maintenance of the dams. OCC Conservation Programs Division Director Tammy Sawatzky said, “Like any form of infrastructure, operation and maintenance of these dams is critical if we hope to continue realizing the benefits they provide.”
Maintenance in some cases, may mean avoiding certain uses along the dams. “That could include cattle or ATV trails and roads cutting down the top of the dam elevation,” Stoner said. “If a trail lowered the dam elevation by a foot and the dam overtopped, the trail would concentrate flow at this location and potentially be disastrous.”
The immense support these flood control dams have received from elected officials has been, is and will continue to be critical.
OCC Executive Director Lam said, “Oklahoma legislators have stepped up to provide significant funding through appropriations and bond proceeds for repair and maintenance on flood control dams. From Okmulgee to Elk City our citizens benefit every day from current and past policy makers prioritizing flood prevention. As we potentially enter a summer drought, flood control structures provide critical water resources. Plus, history has repeatedly demonstrated that Oklahoma droughts only end in devastating floods.”
For excellent information about the National Watershed Coalition, please go to https://watershedcoalition.org/fact-sheets/
For additional resources on safety, please see https://damsafety.org/media/statistics
And you can learn more about “National Dam Safety Awareness Day” at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/dam-safety/awareness-day
Do you have agriculture production or previous board experience? Your presence is sought in filling open Board of Trustee seats for the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF).
We are looking for applicants with proven leadership qualities, knowledge and experience as producers or experience working with Tribal producers or Tribal entities. Other beneficial experience includes:
working with private charitable trusts
knowledge of NAAF and NAAF’s stakeholder communities
knowledge in areas such as agribusiness, philanthropy, non-profit management
To apply for current or future board seats, please complete an application that will be securely housed until the next board opportunity arises. Paper applications can also be downloaded or requested by contacting NAAF at: info@nativeamericanagriculturefund.orgor 479-445-6226.
