​Pasture, Range, and Hayland Planting
Implementing pasture, range, and hayland management projects can significantly reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. Financial assistance is available for establishing or re-establishing pasture, range, and hayland, along with various water supply improvements.
The State Cost Share Program authorizes local districts to offer assistance for the following practices:
Brush Management, Interior Cross Fencing for rotational grazing, Heavy Use Area Protection, Herbaceous Weed Treatment, Livestock Water Supply Pipeline, Pasture and Hay Planting, Pond Construction, Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment, Prescribed Burning, Prescribed Grazing, Pumping Plant for Water Supply, Range Planting, Silvopasture, Spring Development, Water Well, Watering Facility, and Woody Residue Treatment.
Examples of Common Practices
This practice establishes or re-establishes long-term stands of adapted, perennial, or reseeding forage plants, including pasture and hayland renovation. These plantings reduce erosion on existing pasture/hayland or land converted from other uses.
​Range planting and renovation using native grasses offer the same erosion control benefits along with improved wildlife habitat.
Prescribed BurningAlthough well-known in the Flint Hills, prescribed burning is used statewide to achieve one or more of the following goals:

• Manage undesirable vegetation and improve plant community health
• Control pests, pathogens, and diseases
• Reduce wildfire risks by removing excess biomass
• Improve wildlife and invertebrate habitat
• Enhance plant and seed production
• Improve distribution of grazing and browsing animals
• Support soil organism habitat and overall soil health

Livestock Pond
A livestock pond is created by constructing a dam, embankment, or excavating a pit to store water. These structures primarily provide livestock water to support proper grazing distribution on rangeland or pasture and reduce livestock impacts on streams and riparian areas, thereby improving water quality.
Before installing a new water supply, all alternative grazing management options must be considered. Ponds funded through cost share must meet current NRCS standards and include a detailed grazing management plan specifying maximum stocking rates.

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​Watering Facility
​A watering facility is a trough, tank, or waterer—along with related components—installed to provide livestock drinking water. Like other water supply practices, its purpose is to support proper vegetation use in pastures and rangeland and reduce livestock pressure on stream corridors.
Watering facilities may also be used to improve grazing distribution or support rotational grazing systems. All alternative grazing management practices must be exhausted before installing an additional water supply.
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• Limited Access Ramps for Pond Watering of Cattle
• Construction of a Limited Access Ramp for Pond Watering of Cattle
• Solar Water Pumping
• Surface Water Pumping Systems for Livestock Grazing
• Tire Tank Installation Guidelines

Waterers and Watering Systems: A Handbook for Livestock Producers and Landowners

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Brush Management
Brush Management involves the removal, reduction, or control of woody (non-herbaceous) plants. The practice aims to:

• Restore desired vegetative cover
• Protect soil and reduce erosion
• Improve water quality and reduce sediment
• Enhance grazing distribution
• Improve streamflow

This practice applies on rangeland, and warm and cool season pasture and haylands where removal or reduction of excessive woody (non-herbaceous) plants is desired. Where adjustments in grazing management, prescribed burning, and other conservation practices will not restore the kind of plant cover needed to attain conservation objectives within a reasonable time frame.

• This practice applies on rangeland, native or naturalized pasture, and pasture and haylands where removal or reduction of phreatophytes in riparian areas is desired and where removal of phreatophytes will conserve moisture.

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES

• Where practice is utilized:
• a. Must be constructed or installed to serve pastures 40 acres or larger

 Under state cost share, brush management requires mechanical cutting followed by chemical stump treatment. No other clearing methods are permitted for reimbursement.
 
Major Noxious or Invasive Weeds in Shawnee County

1. Sericea Lespedeza – Noxious Weed –
2. Grassland Old World Bluestem – Invasive –
3. Grassland Broomsedge – Invasive –
4. Grassland Musk Thistle – Noxious –
5. Grassland Johnson Grass – Noxious –
6. Cropland – Seeded Native Amaranth (Pigweed) – Invasive –
7. Cropland Eastern Red Cedar – Invasive –
8. Grassland and Woodlands Bush Honeysuckle – Invasive –
9. Woodlands Bradford Pear – Invasive –
10. Grassland and Woodlands Hemp Dogbane – Invasive –
11. Grassland and Cropland Field Bindweed – Noxious - Everywhere

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