GRANT COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
The Grant County Conservation District is a part of the Kentucky Division of Conservation, which is in the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources, which is in the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is a local unit of government formed in June 1941; the 6th district in the state of Kentucky.
The Grant County Conservation District is located in the upper level of the Williamstown USDA Service Center.
Address: Grant County Conservation District
486 Helton Street
Williamstown, Ky. 41097-3526
Phone: (859) 823-2291
Fax: (859) 824-3172
Email: rebecca_peddicord@wkybb.net
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ABOUT US |
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The Grant County Conservation District Board of Supervisors meets effective January 6, 2011:
November – March 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Williamstown USDA Service Center, 486 Helton Street, Williamstown, Ky. 41097, Upper level conference room
April – October 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Williamstown USDA Service Center, 486 Helton Street, Williamstown, Ky. 41097, Upper level conference room
The Grant County Conservation District programs are administered by an elected board of seven supervisors. The board of supervisors consists of:
Kenwood Soper, Chairman
Bill Courts, Vice-Chairman
Jerry Martin, Secretary/Treasurer
Ronald Gabbert
OPEN SEAT
K.G. Cummins
Tim Epperson
Staff:
Becky Peddicord, Administrative Secretary
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Staff:
Greta Steverson, District Conservationist
Kentucky Division of Conservation:
Linda Hunter, Field Representative
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CONSERVATION PROGRAMS |
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Kentucky Agriculture Districts: The Kentucky Agricultural District Law of 1982 allows landowner/landowners with 250 connecting acres to establish an agriculture district to preserve their land for agricultural production.
Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act Plans: The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act of 1994 requires that producers in agriculture or forestry with 10 or more acres must file a Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan.
Kentucky State Cost Share Program: The Kentucky State Cost Share Program was created in 1994 to assist producers in agriculture or forestry with environmental, soil or water quality issues.
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EQUIPMENT RENTALS |
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The District promotes conservation by publishing the availability of a pasture and hayland renovation machine. The no-till seeder was purchased by the conservation district to be used by farmers and landowners on a minimal fee-per-acre basis ($8.00 an acre or $40.00 whichever is greater.) The seeder is leased through Crittenden Farm, Lawn & Garden.
The lime spreader is leased through the district for a daily fee of $30.00. The lime spreader was purchased to aid local producers in amending steep hillsides that commercial spreaders cannot reach.
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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITES |
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Grants are available to each of the county’s five elementary schools to maintain and replenish their outdoor classrooms.
Art & Writing Contest: students (Art: grades 1-5), (Writing: grades 6-12)
Arbor Day trees distributed to the county’s five elementary schools.
College scholarships are awarded each year to local high school graduates.
College scholarships are awarded to non-traditional students attending the Northern Kentucky University Grant County Campus.
Project graduation is supported at both high schools.
Funding provided to send students to Forestry Camp and Camp Robert Webb.
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Non-Traditional Students |
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The Grant County Conservation District’s Non-Traditional Scholarship for the 2012 Fall semester at the NKU Grant County Campus was awarded to Tiffany Niesen and Carla King. In photo left to right: Tiffany Niesen (recipient), Jim Morris (Board Supervisor), Carla King (recipient)
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ARBOR DAY |
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Grant County 4-H students & volunteers
package seedlings for dispersal to the county's
five elementary schools for Arbor Day.
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Conservation Planning and Assistance Available for Agricultural lands |
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton County Conservation Districts provide technical assistance in conservation planning of soil and water resources on agricultural lands, which can lead to and is required in order to receive financial assistance to implement conservation practices, through state and federal cost incentive programs. Conservation technical assistance and conservation planning is the first step to identifying resource problems and opportunities. In order to participate and receive incentive program dollars, a landowner must be willing to implement conservation structures and management of soil and water resources according to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service technical standards and guidelines.
You might ask what is the purpose of a conservation plan? The purpose of conservation planning and implementation is to identify resource problems and limitations on agricultural, woodland, wildlife and urban and recreational land and formulate a solution or a plan of action to prevent or correct the identified or potential resource problems, as well as meeting your individual resource management goals and needs.
The programs offering cost incentives are based on identifying conservation resource problems and issues from the planning process. Land use planning of Natural Resources is a must, with intent to correct the issues and protect natural resources specific to the conservation of soil and water resources. These Programs include the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Buffer Program (CRP) and The Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program. These programs provide financial help to implement conservation strategies identified in the planning and evaluation process but only if you have developed a conservation plan first.
However, Cost incentive programs are not for everyone, they only work for individuals and groups with a sincere intent to implement conservation stewardship on there lands to protect soil and water resources and etc. It must be understood up front that if receiving incentive dollars through at state or federal program that the guidelines and technical designs and standards must be followed and that participation in these types of programs must be maintained for the extent of the program and structural practice policy.
If you are interested in conservation planning, or any of the incentive programs and services offered. Please do not hesitate to contact the local conservation district or the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
By
Ed Thompson, Jr.
NRCS District Conservationist.
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2008 FARM BILL PROGRAMS |
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The 2008 Farm Bill Programs Provide the Opportunity for the development of a
Conservation Plan and Cost Incentive Program Assistance for Agricultural lands.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Grant County Conservation District will provide technical assistance in conservation planning of soil and water resources on agricultural lands, which can lead to and is required in order to receive financial assistance to implement conservation practices, through state and federal cost incentive programs. Conservation technical assistance and conservation planning is the first step to identifying resource problems and opportunities. In order to participate and receive incentive program dollars, a landowner must be willing to implement conservation structures and management of soil and water resources according to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service technical standards and guidelines.
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CONSERVATION PROGRAM ASSISTANCE |
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All program applicants will have to meet the USDA program and producer eligibility requirements in order to apply for these programs.
The programs offering cost incentives are based on identifying conservation resource problems and issues from the planning process. Land use planning of Natural Resources is a must, with intent to correct the issues and protect natural resources specific to the conservation of soil and water resources. These Programs include the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Conservation Reserve Buffer Program (CRP). These programs provide financial help to implement conservation strategies identified in the planning and evaluation process but only if you have developed a conservation plan first.
Conservation Cost Incentive programs include; Animal Waste Control Facilities, Rotational Grazing and Livestock Water Systems. Pasture and Hayland Plantings (Non-Fescue or Brome grass species); Heavy Use Protection Areas and etc: All conservation program practices are competitively funded for the best conservation benefit of priority resources. All cost incentives are based on a flat rate incentive for the practice(s). For more information please contact the conservation district, and or the Natural Resources Conservation Service at 859-823-2291.
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