Grant to fund watershed projects in Vernon County

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

Beginning July 1, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' AgNPS Salt Program will provide $745,000 worth of funding to be distributed over the next seven years to install projects in the Vernon County, Osage Plains Watershed that will decrease nonpoint source pollution, according to a June 13 press release

According to Mark Curtis, district manager of the Vernon County Soil and Water Conservation District, "we're going to target soil erosion control practices, and we're going to be targeting practices such as nutrient management and pest management."

The projects will include a lot of terracing and waterways and grass seedings for erosion control and "nutrient management and pest management is strictly incentive payments to apply according to soil tests as far as commercial fertilizers is concerned," Curtis added.

Vernon County farmers and ranchers can begin taking advantage of the new program right now.

To do so, residents will need to pay a visit to the district office and fill out an application. Then, a visit to assess the needs of the individual farm will result in the development of a plan for later implementation.

Those wanting to take part in the project that do not have the time to get into the office right now can attend an information, education meeting to be held some time in late July. Curtis said he anticipates strong interest in this program.

Paid for by the one-tenth-cent parks and soils sales tax, AgNPS Salt projects have helped local farmers and ranchers solve problems since 1997. For more information on these or other AgNPS Salt projects please contact the Vernon County Soil and Water Conservation District at (417) 667-8137, ext. 3.