The Woodward News

Local News

January 9, 2013

NRCS applications accepted

Gary Engel Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — STILLWATER - Applications are being accepted though Feb. 15 for participation in the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

NRCS Resource Conservationist Joy Martin said the program is designed to create conservation easements between agricultural and non-agricultural land.

Details of the required information for the application is available at www.ok.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp/index.html.

"Urban sprawl continues to threaten the amount of farm and ranch land available in the nation," she said. "The protection program helps provide a buffer for the urban sprawl."

Furnished under the 2008 Farm Bill, eligible entities which may apply include state, local, Indian tribes, or a nongovernmental organization which has an ongoing farmland protection program that purchases agricultural easements for the purpose of protecting agriculture use and related conservation values by limiting conversion to nonagricultural uses of the land.

Martin said the eligible properties for receiving the easement protection, which lasts 30 years, include privately-owned farm/ranch land that contains prime, unique, statewide or locally-important factors; contains historical or archeological resources; or furthers a state or local policy; and is subject to a pending offer to purchase by an eligible entity.

She said the conservation and protection methods are currently in place near Fort Sill by Lawton and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County, helping to restrict nonagricultural expansion.

Proposals for consideration in the protection program will be submitted to Dick Zetterberg, Acting State USDA Conservationist, NRCS, 100 USDA, Suite 206, Stillwater, OK, 74074-2655. A deadline to make the announcement of recipients of up to $300,000 in NRCS grants for a 6-year period has not yet been set, officials said.

Martin said more information is available on the website, or she may be contacted at (405) 742-1234 or joy.martin@ok,usda.gov.

Text Only
Local News
  • More than just a car show

    This weekend's Woodward Car Show is not just a car show.
    That's because the event also includes a cruise in, burnout contest, poker run, poker walk, kids games, silent auction, and prize drawings.

    May 23, 2013

  • Additional ways to assist tornado victims

    Several organizations across Northwest Oklahoma continue to collect donations to send to assist the victims and survivors of the tornadic storms that ripped through central Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday.

    May 23, 2013

  • Tornado damage may hit $2 billion

    MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The tornado that struck an Oklahoma City suburb this week may have created $2 billion or more in damage as it tore through as many as 13,000 homes, multiple schools and a hospital, officials said Wednesday as they gave the first detailed account of the devastation.

    May 23, 2013

  • Ways to help tornado victims

    After donations of all kinds came flooding into Woodward a year ago following the April 15 tornado, it seems that local and area organizations are eager to pay it forward and show the same support to our fellow Oklahomans now suffering in Shawnee, Carney, Moore and south Oklahoma City.

    May 22, 2013

  • Area woman injured in wreck

    One-vehicle accident happened east of Mutual on Tuesday morning.

    May 22, 2013

  • Hospital hosting emergency preparedness meeting

    Various healthcare agencies across Northwest Oklahoma will meet in Woodward Thursday for a conference designed to help them advance their emergency preparedness efforts.

    May 22, 2013

  • EMS strike team.jpg Woodward County EMS helping with tornado response

    Woodward County EMS has joined in the response efforts to the devastation following the deadly EF-5 tornado in Central Oklahoma.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma

    MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The search for survivors and the dead is nearly complete in the Oklahoma City suburb that was smashed by a mammoth tornado, the fire chief said Tuesday.

    Gary Bird said he's "98 percent sure" there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in Moore, a community of 56,000 people.

    May 21, 2013

  • Local church to hold prayer vigil for Moore tornado victims

    The First Christian Church in Woodward will be holding a prayer vigil tonight at 6 p.m. in support of the victims of the tornado that struck Moore on Monday.

    May 21, 2013

  • Donations being taken at armory today

    If you would like to send items to help the victims of Monday's tornado that ripped through Moore, donations are being accepted at the old armory building at Crystal Beach Park through 5 p.m. today.

    May 21, 2013