Tweet
This is some great news from the USDA website:
"Farm Bill Program Benefits Missouri Civil War Site
SPRINGFIELD, MO, October 29, 2003 – In August 1861 the first Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River was fought at Wilson’s Creek, about 12 miles from the then 25-year-old stagecoach town of Springfield, Missouri. Today, steady urban growth in the area has created an issue of another nature for rural landowners who must decide whether to keep their land in agriculture or make it available for development.
Bill and Colleen Kary raise cattle on their ranch bordering the 1,750-acre Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Park. Bill Kary is also a carpenter and developer in a metropolitan area that has grown to a population of about 380,000 people.
“I was in the process of subdividing pieces of the farm,” Kary says. “The only reason I was subdividing it was because the value of the land was getting too high to run cattle on it.”
However, before the Karys sold many lots, Bill learned about the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). The program, part of the 2002 Farm Bill, is administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
FRPP is a voluntary program that helps landowners keep their land in agriculture and protects historic sites on agricultural land. It provides matching funds to purchase conservation easements on prime agricultural land. Participating landowners agree not to convert their land to non-agricultural uses and to develop and implement conservation plans for any highly erodible land covered by an easement.
Conservation easements do not change ownership of the land, only the development rights. Thus, participating landowners can sell their land, but all future owners are subject to the development restrictions in the easement.
An event on November 25 will recognize the Kary farm as the first conservation easement site in Missouri under FRPP. The easement is for 102 acres. The Karys have another 120-acre tract bordering the battlefield that NRCS has approved for FRPP. That easement is pending based upon the availability of other matching funds.
NRCS and other groups interested in preserving open space are hoping that the Kary easement will show other landowners in the area that conservation easements are a good way for them to ensure that their land will remain in agriculture.
“We were real glad when Bill came forward as someone who was interested in the program,” says Terry Whaley, of Ozark Greenways, Inc. Ozark Greenways, in partnership with private donors, helped purchase the agricultural easement for the 102-acre tract. NRCS provides half of the cost. The Karys are donating 25 percent, and Wilson’s Creek Battlefield Foundation is providing part of the remaining 25 percent.
Ted Hillmer, superintendent of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Park, says the easement will help preserve the grassland and trees in the area, keeping the view similar to August 10, 1861. That day, 5,400 Union troops battled 12,000 Confederates. Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in combat, died there.
Roger Hansen, NRCS state conservationist, says many rural landowners would like to preserve open space. But he says the financial incentive of selling land for development often is too enticing.
“With the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, at least landowners have an option,” Hansen says.
Bill Kary says he is glad that option became available to him. He says urban development is progressing toward the battlefield park and his ranch from several directions as the Springfield, Republic and Battlefield communities continue to grow.
“This has always been agricultural land. I would rather see it stay in grassland than see more rooftops. There are too many here already,” Kary says.
For more information about the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program or other agricultural conservation programs, contact the local USDA service center serving your county. Look in the phone book under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture, or on the web at http://offices.usda.gov/."
Unfortunately, a similar article in the Wilson's Creek NBP Volunteer's newsletter notes that "another parcel of land near the park is causing concern for the battlefield. A total of 2,240 acres of land at the southwest corner of the battlefield are about to be developed, with houses on land parcels ranging from three to five acres in size...the Wire road runs through this land and troop movements and encampments have been documented on the land."
Charles D. Hoskins
"Farm Bill Program Benefits Missouri Civil War Site
SPRINGFIELD, MO, October 29, 2003 – In August 1861 the first Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River was fought at Wilson’s Creek, about 12 miles from the then 25-year-old stagecoach town of Springfield, Missouri. Today, steady urban growth in the area has created an issue of another nature for rural landowners who must decide whether to keep their land in agriculture or make it available for development.
Bill and Colleen Kary raise cattle on their ranch bordering the 1,750-acre Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Park. Bill Kary is also a carpenter and developer in a metropolitan area that has grown to a population of about 380,000 people.
“I was in the process of subdividing pieces of the farm,” Kary says. “The only reason I was subdividing it was because the value of the land was getting too high to run cattle on it.”
However, before the Karys sold many lots, Bill learned about the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). The program, part of the 2002 Farm Bill, is administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
FRPP is a voluntary program that helps landowners keep their land in agriculture and protects historic sites on agricultural land. It provides matching funds to purchase conservation easements on prime agricultural land. Participating landowners agree not to convert their land to non-agricultural uses and to develop and implement conservation plans for any highly erodible land covered by an easement.
Conservation easements do not change ownership of the land, only the development rights. Thus, participating landowners can sell their land, but all future owners are subject to the development restrictions in the easement.
An event on November 25 will recognize the Kary farm as the first conservation easement site in Missouri under FRPP. The easement is for 102 acres. The Karys have another 120-acre tract bordering the battlefield that NRCS has approved for FRPP. That easement is pending based upon the availability of other matching funds.
NRCS and other groups interested in preserving open space are hoping that the Kary easement will show other landowners in the area that conservation easements are a good way for them to ensure that their land will remain in agriculture.
“We were real glad when Bill came forward as someone who was interested in the program,” says Terry Whaley, of Ozark Greenways, Inc. Ozark Greenways, in partnership with private donors, helped purchase the agricultural easement for the 102-acre tract. NRCS provides half of the cost. The Karys are donating 25 percent, and Wilson’s Creek Battlefield Foundation is providing part of the remaining 25 percent.
Ted Hillmer, superintendent of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Park, says the easement will help preserve the grassland and trees in the area, keeping the view similar to August 10, 1861. That day, 5,400 Union troops battled 12,000 Confederates. Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in combat, died there.
Roger Hansen, NRCS state conservationist, says many rural landowners would like to preserve open space. But he says the financial incentive of selling land for development often is too enticing.
“With the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, at least landowners have an option,” Hansen says.
Bill Kary says he is glad that option became available to him. He says urban development is progressing toward the battlefield park and his ranch from several directions as the Springfield, Republic and Battlefield communities continue to grow.
“This has always been agricultural land. I would rather see it stay in grassland than see more rooftops. There are too many here already,” Kary says.
For more information about the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program or other agricultural conservation programs, contact the local USDA service center serving your county. Look in the phone book under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture, or on the web at http://offices.usda.gov/."
Unfortunately, a similar article in the Wilson's Creek NBP Volunteer's newsletter notes that "another parcel of land near the park is causing concern for the battlefield. A total of 2,240 acres of land at the southwest corner of the battlefield are about to be developed, with houses on land parcels ranging from three to five acres in size...the Wire road runs through this land and troop movements and encampments have been documented on the land."
Charles D. Hoskins