Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kansas, announced an application period cutoff date of March 21, 2014, for participation in the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative (LPCI).

Funds through this initiative provides producers an opportunity to improve the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) habitat while promoting the overall health of grazing lands and the long-term sustainability of Kansas ranching. Expired or expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields in permanent cover that may benefit LPC habitat may also be eligible for funding.

“This initiative offers financial assistance for implementing necessary conservation practices for lesser

prairie-chicken habitat and development of efficient grazing management systems,” said Banks. Kansas received an allocation for the LPCI for fiscal year 2014 of $699,000.

LPCI promotes the overall health of grazing lands and the long-term sustainability of ranching operations in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The LPCI is available in 36 Kansas counties: Barber, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

The NRCS will fund this initiative through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). All applicants must meet EQIP eligibility requirements. In Kansas, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers will receive a higher payment rate for conservation practices implemented through the LPCI.

For more information visit the Kansas NRCS web page at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the internet at offices.usda.gov). Follow us on Twitter @NRCS_Kansas. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.