Conditions and Trendsof Natural ResourcesIn Kansas

.

In the next few pages, you will findinformation on Kansas’ soil, water, and othernatural resources. This informationrepresents data from the most recent studycompleted by the Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS).

At five-year intervals, the NRCS conducts aNational Resources Inventory (NRI), anational comprehensive survey whichassesses the use, treatment, conditions, andtrends of natural resources on nonfederalrural lands. These lands grow our crops,raise our livestock, and provide wildlife forhunting and fishing. In Kansas, they makeup 94 percent of the land in the state, or51.6 million acres.

To obtain NRI data, NRCS employeesevaluated thousands of randomly selectedsample land units nationwide. Detailedresource observations were made at severalspecific points within each 160-acre sampleunit. These evaluations were made throughon-site investigations and also with newremote sensing technology.

The result of each NRI is a snapshot ofnatural resources in Kansas. This snapshot is vital to help Kansans in the public andprivate sectors make sound environmentaland land-use decisions. This data wascollected on nearly 9,183 sites or 1.5 millionacres in Kansas.

People who use this information make up alarge and diverse group, including farmersand ranchers; contractors and developers;special interest group members; university,state, and federal agency professionals;legislators; and many others. NRI datahelps all these natural resourcestakeholders identify the resource areas thatare in good condition and those that needextra attention in the future.

For additional information, a completesummary of the 1997 NRI data is availableat the NRCS state office. You may write to:

USDA/NRCSNRI

760 S. BroadwaySalina, Kansas 67401

Conditions and Trends ofNatural Resources in Kansas

You may obtain more information on the NRIfrom our website:http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/TechResc.html

The results presented in the next few pagesare from the 1997 National ResourcesInventory. These results are especiallysignificant when compared to 1982 NRIdata, as they provide stakeholders theopportunity to look at fifteen-year trends onnonfederal rural lands.

Overall, the 1997 NRI data reveals progressin the protection of the natural resources inKansas.

“Kansas farmers and ranchers have madetremendous progress in applyingconservation practices to protect our naturalresources over the past fifteen years,” saysLeroy Ahlers, Acting NRCS State

Conservationist. Many of these practiceswere installed under the 1985 Farm Bill.

NRCS soil technicians will be challenged inthe future to provide technical assistance tohelp producers in applying land treatmentthat addresses all resource concerns.These concerns address soil, water, air,plants, animals and human (SWAPAH)needs. Ahlers emphasizes that it isimportant to protect our natural resources toensure it is sustainable for futuregenerations.

Rural 94%

W ater1%Federal

1%Developed

4%

Overall Land Use in 1997

Nearly all (51.6 million acres) of Kansas’ 52.6 million acres are nonfederal lands. Nonfederallands include farms, ranches, other privately owned lands, American Indian trust lands, and landsowned and/or managed by state and local governments.

Overall, the use of nonfederal lands in Kansas has remained relatively stable over the last 10years. The most significant change was a decrease in cropland acres, which dropped from 29.1million acres to 26.4 million acres, or about 10 percent. This decrease in total number of acres incrop production is due in part to the effects of the Conservation Reserve Program and urbandevelopment.

Significance of Agriculture in Kansas

Only 4 percent of the total surface area in Kansas is developed. The rest of Kansas is 94 percentrural, 1 percent Federal land, and 1 percent water.

Kansas is one of the few states that uses 90 percent of its land for agricultural purposes. Totalcash receipts from agriculture in 2001 were $7.9 billion. The gross farm income for the 64,000farms and ranches in Kansas totaled $2.9 billion in 2001. Source: Kansas Agricultural StatisticsService

Kansas ranked fifth among the 50 states as an exporter of agricultural products during fiscal year2000, according to data released by the Economics Research Service, USDA, and the KansasAgricultural Statistics Service. The total value of Kansas exports is approximately $3.1 billion.This is up 8 percent from the previous fiscal year. Most of the increase came from live animalsand meats, along with increases in feed grains and products.

Kansas managed to retain the rank of first place in the export sales of wheat and wheat productswith approximately $721.5 million.

Land Use Trends in Kansas

1982 1997Rangeland 16 million 15.1 millionCropland 29.1 million 26.4 millionForest Land 1.2 million 1.3 millionConservation Reserve Program (CRP) Land 0 2.8 millionPastureland 2.2 million 2.3 millionOther Rural Land 679,000 723,000

Cropland53%

Rangeland32%

Pastureland5% CRP Land

6%

Forest Land3%

Other Rural Land1%

Nonfederal Land Use in 1997

How Nonfederal Land is Used (acres) - 15-year trend

SheSpwsa

IcaAel

Imtml

Kansas

ince 1982, water erosion on croplandas been reduced by 16 percent. Windrosion has been reduced by 45 percent.tewardship by agricultural producers andrivate landowners on the Nation’sorking lands hit an all-time high withuccessful implementation of the 1985nd 1990 Farm Bills.

n 1997, Kansas had 2 million acres ofropland that were being eroded by watert rates exceeding the tolerable limit.nother 1.8 million acres of cropland wereroding at rates that exceed tolerable

imits from wind erosion.

n comparison, in 1982 Kansas had 3.2illion acres of land that exceeded

olerable limits from wind erosion and 4.2illion acres that exceeded the tolerable

imits from water erosion.

Water Erosion Trends onCultivated Cropland in Kans

tons/acre/year

Wind Erosion Trends onCultivated Cropland in Kansa

tons/acre/year

Wind and Water Erosion

1982

1987

1992

2

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

19821987

1992

1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

as

s

1997NationalResourcesInventory

1997

997

Conservation Practices1997NationalResourcesInventory

Over the years, Kansas land usershave applied many different types ofconservation practices to protect andsustain the natural resources.

Conservation practices consist of eitherstructural practices or managementpractices. Structural practices arepermanent practices such as pondsand terraces. Management practicesare those practices that are annuallyapplied to the land by the land user,such as contour farming and cropresidue management.

The National Resources Inventorytracks a small number of thesepractices. The following graphics showacres of land that are served bypractices frequently used by Kansasland users.

ContplanticreatiTheseinfiltra

Contour Farming Distribution

Kansas

our farming is the practice ng around the hill with nearlng hundreds of small ridges ridges slow water flow andtion to reduce erosion.

of tilling andy level rows -

on a hillside. increase

Acres served byGrassed Waterway

Terraced Land Distribution

A grassed waterway is a natural orshaped channel, usually seeded toperennial grass. The waterway isdesigned to be wide and deep enough tosafely carry storm runoff water down thechannel on the grass rather than acrossbare soil. Grassed waterways are usedwhere water concentrates and gullyerosion is a problem.

Terrace systems, in combination withother conservation practices, are used tohelp solve erosion and other resourceproblems. The main function of terraces isto control and manage runoff, especially inthe concentrated flow areas. This helpsreduce gully erosion.

National Resources Inventory dataindicates that throughout the years,Kansas land users have installed enoughterraces to reach the moon and back,roughly 450,000 miles!

Kansas

In 1982, Kansas had 29.1 million acresof cropland. In 1987, it decreased to28.5 million acres. By 1992, croplandwas down by 2 million acres, totaling26.5 million acres.

Today, there are 26.4 million acres. Ithas declined by more than 2.7 millionacres from 1982.

With the decrease in total cropland,adequate protection of this resourcebecomes vital in maintainingsustainable agriculture.

Kansas Cropland in million acre

Cropland Distributio

Cropland

1982

1987

1992

26

26.5

27

27.5

28

28.5

29

29.5

Trendss

n

1997NationalResourcesInventory

1997

Kansas

Under the Conservation ReserveProgram (CRP), landowners are giventhe opportunity and incentive to takeland out of production and plant it topermanent grass or cover. CRP landcan not be grazed, hayed, or croppedin any way for a 10-year period. Thepurpose of the program is to preservesome of our nations most highlyerodible soils and improve wildlifehabitat. In Kansas, there were 2.8million acres under CRP in 1997.

Nationally, since 1982, approximately36 million acres of cropland have beenenrolled in CRP.

Kansas CRP in thousand

CRP Distribution

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

1982

1987

1992

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Trendsacres

1997NationalResourcesInventory

1997

Kansas

The 1997 National Resources Inventory indicatesthat Kansas has 504,000 acres of Federal land,which is less than one percent of the total land inKansas.

Nevada has more Federal land by far than anyother state, with 60 million acres; that’s 85 percentof the state.

Approximately 88 percent of the Federal land islocated in the 11 western states.

State Million Acres Percentage of State’s LandNevada 60 85California 47 46Utah 36 65Idaho 33 62Oregon 32 52Arizona 30 42Wyoming 30 48New Mexico 27 35Montana 27 29Colorado 24 36Washington 12 29

Federal land totaled 408 million acres in1992 – 21 percent of the Nation’s total area.

Some 108 million acres, about 6 percent of theNation’s area, is owned by states, counties,municipalities, and other nonfederal units ofgovernment.

Federal Land

1982 1987

1

488

490

492

494

496

498

500

502

504

Federal Acres Distribu

Federal Landin thousand

1997NationalResourcesInventory

992 1997

tion

Trends acres

Water is the lifeblood of theagricultural economy in Kansas.Irrigation has enabled producers togrow high quality crops on aconsistent basis in a semiaridclimate. Crops such as corn, alfalfa,and grain sorghum have beenproduced in abundance underirrigation.

Included on this page and the nextare several irrigation graphics fromthe 1997 National ResourceInventory.

Kansas Irrigated Land Trendsin thousand acres

Irrigated Land Distribution

Kansas

Irrigation

1997NationalResourcesInventory

1982

1987

1992 1997

3,500

3,510

3,520

3,530

3,540

3,550

3,560

3,570

3,580

3,590

3,600

Kansas Forest Land Trendsin million acres

Forest Land Distribution

Forest Land1997NationalResourcesInventory

1982 1987

1992 1997

1.14

1.16

1.18

1.2

1.22

1.24

1.26

1.28

1.3

Approximately 3 percent of the totalrural land in Kansas is forest land,totaling 1.3 million acres.

Kansas

1997NationalResourcesInventory

Land Use Trends By Capability ClassFor Cropland Acres

1982 1997

Class I 2,997,600 2,893,100Class II 13,544,800 12,830,900Class III 9,142,800 8,129,100Class IV 2,229,800 1,750,400Class V 151,400 146,300Class VI 981,400 729,400Class VII 70,500 44,700Class VIII 0 0

Total: 29,118,300 26,523,900

Class VII soils have very severe limitationsthat make them unsuitable for cultivation andrestrict their use to pasture, range, woodlands,or wildlife.

Finally, Class VIII soils and land forms havelimitations that preclude their use forcommercial crop production and restrict theiruse to recreation, wildlife, water supply, oraesthetic purposes.

Kansas

In 1982, pastureland was 2.2 millionacres. Today, it has increased to 2.3million acres, making up 5 percent ofthe total rural land in Kansas.

Grasses that dominate the pasturelandacross the state include tall fescue,smooth brome and alfalfa.

In the central part of the state, Orchardgrass, Timothy, and Reed Canarygrass are commonly seen. Bermudagrass, switchgrass, and easterngamagrass make up the southern thirdof the state.

Kansas Pastureland in million acres

Pastureland Distributio

Pastureland

1982 1987

1992

2

2.05

2.1

2.15

2.2

2.25

2.3

Trends

n

1997NationalResourcesInventory

1997

Prime Farmland1997NationalResourcesInventory

4%

5%

Kansas Prime Farmland Trendsin million acres

19821987

1992 1997

22.4

22.6

22.8

23.0

23.2

23.4

23.6

23.8

24.0

Prime farmland is rural land with thebest combination of physical andchemical characteristics for producingfood, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseedcrops, and is available for these uses.

Kansas prime farmland is71 percent cropland, 17 percentrangeland, 5 percent pastureland, 4percent CRP, and 2 percent forest land.The rest is other rural land. Seegraphic below.

Kansas

71%

17%2% 1%

CroplandCRPPasturelandRangelandForestlandOther Rural Land

Prime Farmland Distrib

22.0

22.2

ution

Kansas

Thirty-one percent of the total rural landin Kansas is rangeland, totaling over 15million acres. From 1982 to 1997,some 768,800 acres of nonfederalrangeland were converted to otheruses. Of the 105 counties, 11 countieshave rangeland that cover more than50 percent of their total surface area.Approximately seven counties havebetween 300,000 and 530,000 acres.

Rangeland is land on which the plantcover is composed of native grasses,grass-like plants, forbs or shrubssuitable for grazing and browsing.

Management of rangelands in Kansashas the potential to significantly impactour water quality and quantity, wildlifepopulations, recreation, economic, andsocial needs. Proper management ofrangeland is essential for thesustainable production of food andfiber, as well as supporting a widediversity of other uses. Healthyrangelands provide an economic baseand contribute to quality water andsustained stream flows.

Kansas Rangeland Tin million acres

Rangeland Distribution

1987

1992

15.2

15.4

15.6

15.8

16

16.2

16.4

16.6

1982

Rangeland

rends

1997

1997NationalResourcesInventory

Urban Land Trendin million acres

Urban Land Use1997NationalResourcesInventory

1982

1987

1992

1997

1.6

1.65

1.7

1.75

1.8

1.85

1.9

1.95

Urban Land Distribution

In 1982, 1.72 million acres or almost3 percent of the total surface area inKansas was urban. By 1997,1.9 million acres was urban.

Sedgwick County is the largesturban area in Kansas. This county’surban area covers 130,900 acres.Other counties that make up largeurban areas include Johnson,Shawnee, and Wyandotte countiesrespectively.

Butler County is the fastest growingurban area. The Butler Countyurban area covered 31,600 acres in1997. This was an increase of 47percent from 1982 and an increaseof 23 percent from 1992.

Between 1982 and 1997, the landusers of Kansas convertedapproximately 229,800 acres of ruralland to urban development andtransportation corridors.

The development of urban land maynot present a major problem toKansans at this point in time but asstewards of the land, we need to beaware of the problems associatedwith urban development andconstantly look at implementinggood land use policies.

A few of the problems that are quitecommonly associated with urbandevelopment include:increased flooding, increaseddemand for fresh water, increaseddemand for waste disposal,increased potential for surface andgroundwater contamination, andreduction of the agricultural base.

Kansas

Nationwide

The 1997 NRI shows there were 105.4million acres of developed land in1997, compared to 89.4 million acresin 1992 and 75.5 million acres in 1982.

In 1997, developed land totaled 92.4million acres – nearly 5 percent of theU.S. land base. This total is some 14million acres more than the total areaof developed land in 1982.

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