The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has been granted four million dollars to go to landowners enrolled in the Water Bank Program. South Dakota NRCS Easements Coordinator Brandon Kottke says those funds are designated within the Prairie Pothole Region of South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota.
He says all contracts are non-renewable 10 year rental agreements., and that there are different per acre payment rates for cropland, pastureland, non-cropped wetlands and forestland.
Kottke says nine years ago there were several flooding issues that left cropland underwater and so officials came up with this Water Bank Program that helps pay producers not to farm what they can’t farm anyway.
The open enrollment period runs from now until May 14 of 2021. Interested landowners should phone their NRCS county office and make an appointment to sign up.
