May 2016 Volume 33, Issue 1

RUSH COUNTY

The Rush County Con-servation District will be holding their annual state cost-share sign-up starting May 1 through May 31, 2016. This is an excellent opportuni-ty to receive assistance in completing some much needed conserva-tion practices. Funding is provided by the State Conservation Commis-sion through appropria-tions from the Kansas Water Fund.

If you are approved for cost-share funds the practice can not begin until July 2016 after the contract is signed and must be completed by June 1, 2017. All prac-tices must meet specifi-cations set by the Natu-ral Resources Conser-vation Service (NRCS) or the Central KS Local Environmental Plan-ning Group (CKLEPG) for installation of new septic systems.

NON-POINT SOURCE PRACTICES

Abandoned Water Well Plugging

Plugging Abandoned

Water Well

Livestock Waste Man-agement

Diversion

Waterway

Earth/Excavation

Fencing

Bunk Pad

Water Well

Pipeline

Tank

Lagoon/Pond Sealing

Underground Outlet

Riser

Gated Pipe

Windbreak

On-Site Wastewater Sys-tem

Replacing Failing Septic System

Pasture/Rangeland Man-agement

Livestock Pipeline

Livestock Water Well

Tank

Cross Fencing

Solar Panels

WATER RESOURCES PRACTICES

Erosion/Sediment Con-trol

Waterway

Waterway Reconstruction

New Terraces

Diversion

Pasture/Hayland Planting

Range Planting

Windbreaks

Pasture/Rangeland Man-agement

Livestock Pipeline

Livestock Water Well

Tank

Cross Fencing

Solar Panels

Irrigation and Water Con-servation

Underground Pipe

A q u a r t e r l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e : R u s h C o u n t y C o n s e r v a t i o n D i s t r i c t 1 5 1 5 O a k , P O B o x 1 2 9 L a C r o s s e , K S 6 7 5 4 8 P h o n e ( 7 8 5 ) 2 2 2 - 2 6 1 5 s t e p h a n i e . r o y e r @ k s . n a c d n e t . n e t

B o a r d o f S u p e r v i s o r s M I K E M A N E T H

C h a i r p e r s o n M A R K B R A C K

V i c e C h a i r p e r s o n G E N E S C H L E G E L

T r e a s u r e r M I K E Y O U N G E R

S A N D R A N E L S O N

D i s t r i c t P e r s o n n e l S T E P H A N I E R O Y E R

D i s t r i c t M a n a g e r R I C K S C H M I D T

D i s t r i c t T e c h n i c i a n - A C E S T e c h n i c i a n

N R C S P e r s o n n e l

R O N K L E I N S u p e r v i s o r y D i s t r i c t

C o n s e r v a t i o n i s t C H A R L E S A T K I N S O N

D i s t r i c t C o n s e r v a t i o n i s t J A S M I N E W I L S O N

S o i l C o n s e r v a t i o n i s t J O E G A B E L

S o i l C o n s e r v a t i o n T e c h n i c i a n

N R C S A r e a P e r s o n n e l

B R A D Y O U N K E R A r e a E n g i n e e r

State Cost-Share Sign-Up to Began May 1

2016 Conservation District State C/S Signup 1

2016 Conservation District Annual Meeting 2

2015 Banker Award Winners 2

2015 Poster Contest Winners 3

3rd Grade Soil & Crop Day 4

4th Grade Forester Day—Arbor Day 4

6th Grade Watershed Dam Day 5

FSA Retirement 6

Stewardship Week was Celebrated 6

Advertisers & Calendar of Events 7

No-Till Drills Available 8

Women on the Farm Workshop 3

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

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The Rush County Conservation District held their 70th Annual Meeting at St. Michael’s Parish Center in LaCrosse, on January 31, 2015. Mike Maneth, Chairperson, welcomed everyone on behalf of the Conservation District. Linda Woods of Rush Center, KS served a roast beef and pork dinner to 96 people. Pastor Bruce Adamson gave the invocation.

The business meeting began with Mike Maneth, Chairperson, presenting the previous minutes. Gene Schlegel, Treasurer, presented the financial statement for 2015. Joe Gabel, NRCS Soil Technician, and Stephanie Royer, District Manager presented the 2015 accomplishments.

Sandy Nelson held an election by secret ballot for one supervisor position. Mike Maneth was re-elected. He will serve a three-year term.

Don Reinhardt, Key Banker, presented Two “Soil Conservation Banker Award”, one “Windbreak Award”, and one “Water Quality Award.”

Jason Wagner with KS Dept of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism presented one “Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award.”

Mark Brack and Mike Younger presented the trophies to the seven of the nine winners of the 2015 poster contest.

A special thanks goes out to our county banks for sponsoring our annual meeting.

Trilogy, bluegrass gospel musicians from Victoria, presented the entertainment. Then honored Walter J. and Mary Younker as the longest married couple in attendance, 66 years.

C O N S E R VAT I O N D I S T R I C T 7 0 T H A N N U A L M E E T I N G

Above—2015 Kansas Bankers Assoc Soil Conservation Award Winners: from left to right—Paula and Dale Younker of Suitcase Farmss; and Jay & Maureen Georg accepting on behalf of their son’s family, Justin and Lindsey Georg.

Above—2015 Kansas Bankers Assoc Water Quality Award Winner: from left to right—Jill and Ryan Georg with daughter Molly. And the 2015 Kansas Bankers Assoc Windbreak Award Winner: Chad Irvin and his son Chet.

Right—2015 Kansas Bankers Assoc Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award Winner: from left to right—Jason Wagner, KDWP&T, Randy Rodgers and Helen Hands.

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The Women on the Farm Committee is hosting another Workshop set for July 12th. The Workshop topic will be “Harnessing the Power of Excel.” The presenter will be Rich Llewelyn, Extension Assistant, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University. This hands-on workshop will help participants to better utilize the power of Excel spreadsheets. Participants will work on five different exercises in Excel designed to develop skills in mathematical calculations and formulas, including equations for breakeven prices and yields and using what-if analysis. They will also learn to use "Sum", "Sumproduct", "PMT" and "If" functions, link information from other spreadsheets and create and use look-up tables.

The workshop is entirely hands-on, and attendees will use Excel to create four different spreadsheets, including estimation of machinery costs, budgeting and enterprise analysis, calculating principal and interest payments and analysis of livestock economics. Participants will easily and confidently learn Excel skills by executing them in an interactive setting. Laptop computers will be provided for use, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. The session is limited to 20 participants. Rich Llewelyn was raised on a farm near Riley, KS, he is a three-time graduate of K-State with a B.S. degree in Agronomy, and a Masters and PhD in Agricultural Economics. He spent 13 years teaching economics and working with urban and rural community development

in East Java, Indonesia before returning to Kansas in 2006 to work with the AgManager.info website and departmental conferences. He has also taught the “Price Analysis and Forecasting” course for undergraduate students at K-State and uses Excel in class as well as for a multitude of projects. Please join us for the workshop on July 12th, 2016 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the KSU Extension Office meeting room in LaCrosse, KS. Please RSVP by July 8th by calling Stephanie Royer at 785-222-2615 Ext 101. There is no fee thanks to our local sponsors. Snacks will be provided.

The Rush County Conservation District once again sponsored the annual poster contest program for the area schools. The conservation district made a short presentation to grades 1 through 6 at the Otis-Bison and La Crosse schools and encouraged the students to participate in the poster contest. The theme was “Local Heroes—Your Hardworking Pollinators”. The posters were divided into three divisions. Division One included the first grade. Division Two included the second and third grades, and Division Three included the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Nine winners were picked out of the 215 poster entries. The names were not revealed to the judges until after the winners were selected. Trophies were awarded at the Conservation District Annual Meeting.

2 0 1 5 P O S T E R W I N N E R S

H A R N E S S I N G T H E P O W E R O F E X C E L — W O R K S H O P S E T F O R J U L Y 1 2 T H

Pictured from left to right: Lily Schwindt, Marissa Pechanec, Madison Morgan, Clara Thielenhaus, Zoey Schwindt, Brennen Steinert, and Macie Wiltse.

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4 T H G R A D E F O R E S T E R D AY — A R B O R D AY

The Rush County Conservation District sponsored the Fourth Grade Foresters Day. They invited both fourth grades from the county schools and sponsored a “hands on” field day. Original plan was for Arbor Day on April 29th but weather caused us to reschedule. This year each class planted shrubs at the USDA Service Center in LaCrosse. The students learned not only how to correctly plant shrubs and trees but how to take care of them and the optimal places to plant them. Also learned the different types of trees and their purposes. After planting the shrubs, the group toured a windbreak that was just planted a year ago and one that has been growing for almost 11 years and also saw some ornamental trees around the USDA Service Center. This year’s presenters were Charles Atkinson, NRCS District Conservationist, Joe Gabel, NRCS Soil Technician, Rick Schmidt, District Technician and Stephanie Royer, District Manager.

The district sponsored the 3rd Grade Soil and Crop Day. The field day highlighted the Soil Tunnel Trailer. The trailer traveled to both schools on April 14th and the 3rd graders got to see the underground world come to life! Charles Atkinson, District Conservationist for NRCS, and Stephanie Royer, District Manager were the presenters. They talked all about soil, water and crops. Students even got to do some of their own research and give presentations at the end on products made from KS crops. For more information about this project please visit the website @ soiltunneltrailerwk.com.

3 R D G R A D E S O I L & C R O P D AY

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C O N S E RVAT I O N PA RT N E R S S P O N S O R 6 T H G R A D E WAT E R S H E D D A M F I E L D D AY

On April 5th, 2016, the 6th Grade Students from LaCrosse and Otis-Bison School districts were invited to the 2nd annual 6th Grade Watershed Dam Field Day at Stone Lake just 1.5 miles east of LaCrosse. There were 32 students who participated with presenters from the Wet Walnut Creek Watershed, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Rush County Conservation District.

The students took a tour of the dam in the morning. They learned all about the basic parts of the dam which included the upstream slope, downstream slope, top of the dam, auxiliary spillway, riser, valve/drawdown, principal spillway pipe, stilling basin, drain outlets, slope protection and reservoir area in addition they learned about wildlife habitat and conservation tree plantings around the lake.

After the tour the students moved to the LaCrosse Fire Station where lunch was provided by the Wet Walnut Creek Watershed. After lunch classroom sessions and demonstrations were held. The students learned about the wildlife habitats that Watershed Dams provide. They learned that the existing habitat was changed, so

mitigated areas are created to replace the upland habitat that is lost. Once built, the Dams provide wetland habitat that was not previously available and is an important part of the central flyway. The students then saw two environmental model presentations, a Watershed Enviro-Scape Model and a Floodplain Simulator/Dam Model. Students learned that we all

live in a watershed and all of us affect our water quality. They learned about Point Source Pollution and Non-Point Source Pollution in our watersheds and they learned the

seriousness of dams and water. Students also learned how the watershed dams have benefited Rush County and helped to reduce the chances of floods in our area. They learned how dams are built, maintained, and operated to reduce the chances of a catastrophic flood. Students explored the mass

destruction to the environment and human life that flooding can cause and learned how the watershed dams protect downstream residents and property. Students also had the opportunity to review emergency action plans as they relate to a watershed dam and other high water events. In the afternoon the students learned about the history of the Wet Walnut Creek Watershed. They learned about the different sizes of dams in the watershed, and the maintenance that is required on the dams. A couple videos were watched showing dam breaches and the destruction caused by the floodwaters when a dam fails. They finished up with a review and verbal quiz about what was covered during the day before returning to school for their last classes.

Page 6 R U S H C O U N T Y R E V I E W

DON”T FORGET!

THE DISTRICT CAN ASSIST WITH:

Tree Plantings:

Weed Barrier

Trees and Shrubs

Deer and Pest

Repellent

Tilling

Fabric Laying

Rental Equipment:

No-Till Drills

Root Plow Marking Flags Drip Irrigation Supplies Grass Seed

The Rush County Conservation

District wants to remind you that

each of us has a connection to

natural resources. The National

Association of Conservation

Districts (NACD) is celebrating the

61st year of Stewardship Week April

24 – May 1, 2016. The 2016

Stewardship Week hinges around

the theme “We All Need Trees.”

Trees provide us with a multitude of

benefits and services including, but

not limited to: clean air and water,

healthy soil, shade, wood products,

fuel, and jobs.

“Educating the public about the

importance of trees in our daily

lives is an essential part of what

NACD advocates through natural

resource conservation and is the

essence of this year’s Stewardship

theme,” said NACD President Lee

McDaniel. “Trees and forests are

critical to providing clean air and

water, healthy soil, abundant

wildlife habitat, and valuable

products we use every day.”

Your local conservation district

can assist you in learning more

about trees and the species native to

your area of the country. They can

also provide insight on tree planting,

care and maintenance as well as

information for how to protect trees

from invasive species. Districts have

a long-standing history of working

with state and private forest owners

in helping promote and safeguard

our nation’s forested lands.

Rush County Conservation

District is a member of NACD

which oversees the Stewardship

Week program. Stewardship Week

is one of the largest national annual

programs to promote conservation.

NACD represents the nation’s 3,000

conservation districts, which were

established to encourage resource

conservation across the country.

Cindy has decided it is time to retire from FSA and move on to a new challenge. After 32+

years of dedicated and loyal service to USDA, seeing the conversion to computers in 1985 to

digital imagery, she has seen a lot of changes over the years. She was responsible for all

Conservation Programs, Compliance, Civil Defense and Rural Development, Automation,

and Geographic Information System (GIS). Her knowledge and expertise will be greatly

missed by producers and co-workers across the state. Her last day was April 29th at the field

office.

C I N D Y S C H R O T E R R E T I R E D F R O M F S A

S T E WA R D S H I P

Page 7 V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E 1

District Board Meeting—April 6, 2016—8:00 PM—USDA Service Center, LaCrosse, KS

Earth Day—April 22, 2016

Arbor Day—Fourth Grade Foresters—April 29, 2016

Stewardship Week—April 24 thru May 1, 2016

District Board Meeting—May 11, 2016—8:00 PM—USDA Service Center, LaCrosse, KS

Memorial Day—May 30, 2016—Holiday—Office Closed.

State Cost-Share Cutoff —May 31, 2016

District Board Meeting—June 1, 2016—8:00 PM—USDA Service Center, LaCrosse, KS

TAMMEN BROTHERS Terraces

Waterways

Ponds

PHONE: (785) 355-2394 or 355-2388

SHARP BROTHERS SEED CO. Proud to provide Quality Seed to

the Rush County Conservation District and the land users of Rush County

Healy, KS 67850 1-800-462-8483

Terracing Demolition

Rock & Sand Dozer

Excavator Tree Removal

1-800-945-3245

Mobile (620) 397-3200

Bill McLeish

Dale Dirks — 620-786-0677

Terraces

Waterways

General Dirt

Construction

Dirks Dirt Construction LLC Scraper

Grader

Terracer

Loader

Dump Truck

Excavator Kansas Land Improvement Contractor-member

1235 SW 10 Rd.

Pawnee Rock, KS 67567

La Crosse (785) 222-2553 Hargrave (785) 222-3344 McCracken (785) 394-2244 Brownnell (785) 481-2379

“Striving to be your First Choice”

Midland Marketing

TRUAN’S

Rick & Gerri 3448 176th St.

Gorham, KS 67640

Loaders

Scrapers

Graders

Dump Trucks

Terracer

Backhoe

Terraces

Waterways

Pond Cleaning

Earth Moving

General Ag

Home: 785-637-5410—Cell: 785-735-4116

Kansas LICA

The Rush County Conservation District appreciates our newsletter sponsors.

Please thank these sponsors when you see them.

Calendar of Events

Please make sure the USDA Service Center has your email address and cell phone number. The district is wanting to begin submitting our quarterly newsletter by email and FSA is no longer able to mail reminder letters, they need to call or email.

Rush County Conservation District

1515 Oak – P.O. Box 129

La Crosse, KS 67548-0129

R U S H C O U N T Y R E V I E W

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD)."

CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO-TILL DRILLS

20 foot John Deere 1590 No-Till Drill

15 foot John Deere 1590 No-Till Drill

15-foot drill - $6.50/acre

20-foot drill - $7.50/acre

Both have dry fertilizer capability.

Both drills have a $100.00 minimum.

Contact—Rick Schmidt 785-222-2615 Ext 107

Good Conditions to Plant FEED !!

If you are considering planting feed for your cattle with the

recent moisture please contact the Conservation District and

utilize the No-Till Drills. Plant the feed into your residue

and keep your moisture!!