Kansas Priority Resource Concerns and Ranking Pools

CSP applications will be ranked based on the following factors, using the conservation measurement tool, to the maximum extent practicable:

• level of conservation treatment on all applicable priority resource concerns at the time of application;
• degree to which the proposed conservation treatment on applicable priority resource concerns effectively increases conservation performance;
• number of applicable priority resource concerns proposed to be treated to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold by the end of the contract; and
• extent to which other resource concerns, in addition to priority resource concerns, will be addressed to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold by the end of the contract period.

Geographic ranking pools have been established so applicants will be ranked relative to other applicants who share similar resource challenges. In Kansas, there will be one statewide ranking pool for nonindustrial private forest land (NIPF) and three geographic ranking pools for agricultural land - these geographic ranking pools will align with the Kansas NRCS administrative area boundaries.

NIPF will compete in a ranking pool separate from agricultural land. An applicant with both NIPF and agricultural land will have the options to submit:

• One application in NIPF;
• One application for agricultural land; or
• Two applications, one for each land type.

An applicant with an agricultural operation that crosses ranking pool boundaries will make application and be ranked in the ranking pool where the largest acreage portion of their operation occurs.

Special pools have also been established for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (SD) and beginning farmers or ranchers (BF). Applicants who want their application considered in the pool for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or beginning farmers or ranchers will designate that intent on their application.

The following table identifies the ranking pools that will be available in Kansas and the priority resource concerns that have been selected.

The following document requires Acrobat Reader.

Map - Kansas NRCS Administrative Areas (PDF; 149 KB) (Text version)

Definitions

Agricultural land means cropland, rangeland, and pastureland on which agricultural products, or livestock are produced and resource concerns may be addressed. Agricultural lands may also include other land and incidental areas included in the agricultural operation as determined by NRCS.

Nonindustrial private forest land means rural land that has existing tree cover or is suitable for growing trees, and is owned by an individual, group, association, corporation, Indian Tribe, or other private legal entity that has definitive decision-making authority over the land.

Beginning farmer or rancher means:

1. An individual or legal entity who:
   1. Has not operated a farm, ranch, or nonindustrial private forest land, or who has operated a farm, ranch, or nonindustrial private forest land for not more than 10 consecutive years (this requirement applies to all members of a legal entity); and
   2. Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.
2. In the case of a contract with an individual, individually or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county or State where the farm is located.
3. In the case of a contract with a legal entity or joint operation, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. Material and substantial participation requires that each of the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if each of the members did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a producer who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities. A socially disadvantaged group is a group whose members have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group, without regard to their individual qualities. These groups consist of American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. Gender alone is not a covered group for the purposes of NRCS conservation programs. A socially disadvantaged applicant is an individual or entity who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. For an entity, at least 50 percent ownership in the farm business must be held by socially disadvantaged individuals.

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Last Modified: 08/17/2009