Eric B. Banks, state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced an additional $1.45 million for financial assistance has been made available to Kansas producers who had conservation practices damaged or destroyed by flooding events in Kansas during 2008 that need to be repaired and replaced.

“Producers need to act quickly and sign up for financial assistance by the August 1, 2008, deadline,” said Banks.

“These funds provide an opportunity for producers hit by flooding to repair and/or replace the damaged practices and keep their investment and conservation practices working.”

What’s Eligible for Financial Assistance
Any structural or vegetative conservation practice originally installed with NRCS financial assistance and/or technical assistance and still functioning at the time of the flooding would be eligible.  Practices are not eligible if the damage was due to lack of maintenance or caused by a non-flood related event.

“There are a lot of practices out there that would be eligible; for example, washed out terraces and grass seedings, damaged ponds, and streambank stabilization systems that failed,” said Troy J. Munsch, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs in Kansas.

Visit your local NRCS office to learn more about this signup.  The office is located at your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the Internet at http://offices.usda.gov.  More information is also available on the Kansas Web site at  www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.