1998 Oklahoma Producer Grants

The Kerr Center's Oklahoma Producer Grant Program awarded six grants to innovative Oklahoma agricultural producers in 1998.

Improving the quality of water on Oklahoma farmland was the focus of the grant program in 1998, its first year. "We were impressed with the quality of the grants funded and happy that we were able to give grants to producers in diverse parts of the state," said Alan Ware, program director.

Projects involving livestock, crops, and conservation practices were funded. Most grant recipients are planning field days to share project results with the public.

Grant applicants submitted detailed proposals which were evaluated by an independent technical committee of agricultural producers and professionals. Grants ranged from nearly $3,000 to $7,500.

Kim Barker has a 1500 acre ranch in Waynoka in northwest Oklahoma. His $3390 grant is for a three-year demonstration project.

Barker's project will show how pond water quality can be improved by fencing cattle out, and also how erosion caused by livestock trails can be healed by taking water to the livestock. The latter will be accomplished by piping water to the paddocks from a windmill. Cattle's usage of alleyways will be reduced, which will in turn reduce cattle trails and erosion.

Barker's goal is to reduce bare ground and increase vegetation around the pond and in eroded areas. To measure results he will test water for turbidity (cloudiness of water from sediment) and monitor the eroded sites photographically.

Woods County extension agent Bob LeValley is cooperating on the project.

See the fact sheet on Kim Barker's livestock watering project.

Tom L. Gunn farms 600 acres in Comanche and Stephens Counties near Lawton in southwest Oklahoma. His $7500 grant is for a three-year project which will demonstrate several practices to improve water quality.

Gunn will convert land (some of which is highly erodible) from wheat to a crabgrass/rye rotation using no-till and low-till methods. This is just one change that will improve the water of a pond in the watershed-- livestock will also be fenced out of the pond, and limited-access watering points installed. Buffer strips will reduce cattle waste run-off, and a small dam in the upper watershed will be repaired to catch silt run-off. Gunn will test run-off for turbidity, pH, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and will monitor changes photographically. Comanche County extension agent Jim Coe and district conservationist Gary VanDeventer are cooperating on the project.

See the fact sheet on Tom Gunn's water quality improvement project.

Kent Donica operates a 700 acre stocker calf/cow-calf/goat operation in Carter County in southern Oklahoma near Ardmore. The three year, $7500 grant is for a research and demonstration project.

One project objective is to demonstrate how controlled burning can be used in combination with livestock (goats) to reclaim land with heavy brush/timber to grass without primary clearing, which causes erosion. Another goal: establish adequate grass in the reclaimed area to prevent erosion and the silting of a pond and stream.

Results will be measured by determining the extent of brush removal, penetration of sunlight to the ground, erosion, grass quality and quantity, damage to problem brush, and control of brush re-growth. Increases in AUM's (animal unit months) will also be measured.

Cooperators include Steve Swigert, Wadell Altom and Russell Stevens of the Noble Foundation and Brian Cothran of the Dickson Schools.

Catherine and Michael Dillon have a 68-acre ranch near Maramec in the northeastern part of the state. They raise Paso Fino horses and have a custom hay baling business. Their grant is for $2947.

One objective of the Dillons' grant is to reduce soil erosion by slowing the high velocity run-off which currently comes onto the property and goes down a draw to a pond. A pasture will be terraced to redirect some of the water. The key element of the project is the installation of panel drops-- cattle panels with eight-inch drain rock piled on each side-- in the draw. Slowing the water reduces the rate of sedimentation of the pond, lengthening its life and improving the quality of its water.

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will advise the Dillons on locating and installing the panel drops and terraces. Results will be gauged through photography, site sketches, and measuring water turbidity. Two cooperators are Pawnee County extension educator Blaine Franklin and district conservationist Loran Zweiacker.

Rick Jeans raises wheat, soybeans, and milo on 1500 acres near Tonkawa in northern Oklahoma. He also has a cow/calf herd and stocker cattle on wheat during the winter. The three- year grant is for $7302.

Jeans will be applying chicken litter to wheat using three different methods: no-till, low-till, and conventional. The goal is to discover which method yields the best while preventing the leaching of nutrients down through the soil profile. Jeans will perform soil tests to monitor nutrient movement.

Cooperators include Kay County district conservationist Richard Zetterberg, Brent Smith of Farmland Industries, Mike Thralls of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and Delbert and Jean Jelsma, neighbors.

Leon Kelley has a small commercial orchard near Red Oak in southeastern Oklahoma. The three-year grant is for $7489.72.

Kelly's project includes using composted chicken litter as a fertilizer source in his orchard and implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program in his orchard to reduce pesticide use and cost. Kelly will measure tree yield, observe tree health and vigor, and monitor water quality.

Cooperators include Latimer County extension agent Tony Johnson, Latimer County district conservationist Lori Gann-Hamman, Pittsburg County extension agent Ted Evicks and Leland Walker of Eastern Oklahoma State College.