The next Bourbon County Coalition general membership meeting will be next Wednesday, April 2nd at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott Ave.
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
April 2, 2025 1:00 PM
Scottview Conference Room
315 S. Scott Ave
Agricultural Producers Have Until April 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs for the 2025 Crop Year
Kansas Enrollment Currently At 70% of Expected
Manhattan KS, March 27, 2025 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Kansas, producers have completed 72,222 contracts to date, representing 70% of the more than 104,500 expected contracts.
“Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Joshua Ridder, deputy state executive director for FSA in Kansas. “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.”
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual, which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll, with a signed contract, each year. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, the contract will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.
If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15, 2025, deadline, the election remains the same as their 2024 election for eligible commodities on the farm. Also, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contract by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2025 year and will not receive a payment if one is triggered. Farm owners can only enroll in these programs if they have a share interest in the commodity.
Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Web-Based Decision Tools
Many universities, including Kansas State University’s AgManager.info , offer web-based decision tools to help producers make informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Producers are encouraged to use the tool of their choice to support their ARC and PLC elections.
Crop Insurance Considerations
Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider, but producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres.
Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may elect ECO regardless of their farm program election.
Upland cotton farmers who enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan, or STAX, on their planted cotton acres.
Optimizing FSA Office Visits
Agricultural producers visiting FSA to complete ARC/PLC elections and enrollment are encouraged to also conduct other FSA program business during their scheduled appointment including completing farm loan applications and applying for the recently announced Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP).
Sign up for ECAP began on March 19, 2025. ECAP, authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, provides up to $10 billion to agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year. Administered by FSA, ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Congress gave USDA 90 days to implement the program, and that deadline was met. Producers of eligible commodities must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account. For more information, please visit the ECAP website or review the ECAP Fact Sheet.
More details are forthcoming on more than $20 billion to be made available through the American Relief Act, 2025, for producers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 including $2 billion set aside for livestock producers and other funds that will be administered through block grants with states.
More Information
To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.
FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Richard “Rick” Curtis Johnson, Sr. age 65, a resident of Blackwell, Oklahoma, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Rapid City, South Dakota. He was born April 26, 1959, in Salina, Kansas, the son of Robert Johnson and Doris Thornton Johnson.
Almost immediately after high school, Rick enlisted with the United States Navy. He faithfully served his country from 1978 to 1992.
After his service with the Navy, he became a long-haul truck driver. He frequently made trips between Oklahoma and Canada and was serving in this capacity when he became ill in South Dakota. Rick enjoyed traveling, making people laugh, and constructing model cars. Rick was a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys always cheering them on for each game. One might also say he was a movie connoisseur, never missing a new film. Rick was a man of faith and a longtime Baptist.
Survivors include a daughter, Christine Johnson and her fiancée, Spencer of Perry, Oklahoma and a son, Richard C. Johnson, Jr. of Ponca City, Oklahoma; a brother, Bill Johnson of Minneapolis, Kansas and two sisters, Margaret Johnson also of Minneapolis, Kansas and Sharon Johnson of Salina, Kansas. Also surviving is his fiancée, April Panama.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents.
Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 11:30 A. M. Tuesday, April 1st at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle, 502 S. Margrave St., Ft. Scott, Kansas. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the United States Navy. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
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“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you.”
The same day I read this quote from Pope Francis, someone sent me this post: “If God is making you wait, then do what waiters do. Serve.”
The photo shows a man who stands outside the church Dave and I attend in Las Vegas. Faithfully, each Sunday he is on the corner after the service, smiling to every exiting vehicle. Granted, he’s not on the stage preaching or singing, but his service is no less appreciated.
Ephesians 2:10 (TLB) says this: God . . . has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. I have met people who say they “serve” in their church. When I ask them how, they answer “by going to church” or “attending a Bible study.” Those are good things to do, of course, but that’s not what Paul was writing to the Ephesians about.
What makes people prone to take care of their own needs and no one else’s? Fortune Magazine ran an article and referred to Faith Popcorn, a New York City marketing expert, as the “Nostradamus of Marketing.” Faith addresses a shift since Covid: “One of the major changes that is taking place in American culture is the ‘cocooning of America.’ It is ‘looking for a haven at home – drawing their shades, plumping their pillows, clutching the remotes. Hiding . . . and everybody is digging in’.” She refers to this as “hypernesting” or “reality retreat.”
Churches reflect this behavior as Christians choose to stay at home and “play it safe” on Sundays instead of obeying Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The bottom line is that we Christians must be inconvenienced for the Gospel. We must be willing to pay a sacrificial price so that others may come to know Jesus. Why is it so hard to think of others first, to remember that every person we see is someone Jesus thought enough of to die for?
Even praying for someone becomes an after-thought instead of an intentional, purposeful opportunity to bombard the thrones of Heaven to serve them. And Heaven forbid we take the time to mentor someone with the good news of eternity. In Romans 10:14, Paul asks how people will come to believe in Christ. Answer: through us.
Three Scriptures in Romans pave the road to sharing the gospel.
1. 3:23—For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
2. 5:8—God shows his love for us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
3. 4:4-5—Salvation can’t be earned (or else Jesus wouldn’t have died.) We need to believe in Christ.
Reread the quote by Pope Francis and ask yourself this simple question: “What is the best thing I can do sacrificially to make others happy?” I pray that leading others to Christ is at the top of your list.
A group of citizens is suing the county commissioners. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include both current commissioners in their capacity as individuals. On 12/30/2024, the lawyer representing the defense of the then-current commission filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that while the plaintiffs may not like agreements made by the commissioners, there is no legal basis for the lawsuit.
Such a motion would require the judge to rule on whether or not the basis of plaintiffs’ complaints were sound and something where the plaintiffs could potentially win. Basically, a motion to dismiss says, “If we assume that the plaintiff’s arguments were all true, would they win the case? If not, then the case should be dismissed.” If there is no legal basis for the plaintiff’s claims, then there is no reason to proceed with the cost of a lawsuit. If the complaints have a legal basis and they could win, then the lawsuit would proceed.
Plaintiffs’ Petition includes many general frustrations with the terms of the Agreements but the Petition does not identify any contractual defect with the Agreements under Kansas law sufficient to set aside the Agreements.
On 3/26/25, the lawyer for the defense of the current county commission filed a new motion to withdraw the motion to dismiss, potentially extending the lawsuit.
The filing to withdraw the lawsuit is brief and gives no reason for the request to withdraw.
“Protecting Kansans’ personal information and genetic data is of the utmost importance to our office. Because of the company’s current financial situation, we encourage Kansans to consider requesting deletion of their genetic data held by 23andMe,” Assistant Attorney General Sarah Dietz said.
Kansas residents should be aware of their rights and the protections afforded to their genetic data under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) and the Wayne Owen Act.
Since this data is incredibly personal and sensitive, it’s important to understand your rights under Kansas’s privacy laws, including how to delete your genetic data from 23andMe.
How to Take Action and Protect Your Genetic Data
If you wish to rescind access to your genetic information and request the destruction of your test sample, follow these steps:
How to delete genetic data from 23andMe
How to destroy your 23andMe Test Sample
If you previously chose to allow 23andMe to store your saliva sample and DNA but would now like to opt-out, you can update your settings by going to “Preferences” on your account page.
To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research:
If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page under “Research and Product Consents.”
Please visit the Office of the Kansas Attorney General’s website for more information on your rights under the KCPA and the Wayne Owen Act, guidance in managing your data, or to file a complaint.
Monday, March 31, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing work on U.S. 69 in Bourbon and Linn counties. An overlay will be placed on the northbound lanes of U.S. 69, starting at the south U.S. 54 junction in Fort Scott and continuing north for 25.6 miles to K-52 near Pleasanton.
Traffic will be carried through the work zone with alternating lane closures and intermittent ramp closures. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished by mid-December. Pearson Construction, of Wichita, is the primary contractor on the $17.6 million resurfacing work.
Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.gov, for more highway conditions and construction details. Persons with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.
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Wreaths Across America KS 0049, the local For Scott, Kansas, fundraising group is proud to be named the Top Group in Kansas. Thanks to local support, sponsorships to place veteran’s wreaths at Fort Scott National Cemetery were successful to provide a wreath for every veteran gravesite at the ceremony held December 16, 2023.
Each year, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America recognizes top sponsorship groups for excellence in serving their local community while helping to share the yearlong mission to Remember, Hoor, and Teach. Among the thousands of supportive groups honoring locally interred veterans through wreath sponsorships, WAA recently announced that special recognition has been given to Wreaths Across America KS 0049 for Fort Scott National Cemetery as the outstanding group in Kansas.
Since its founding in 2007, WAA has collaborated with hundreds of like-minded organizations, volunteers, and civic groups nationwide to remember and honor our nation’s veterans. Thanks to local support, this group was able to maximize efforts to honor veterans laid to rest at Fort Scott National Cemetery. This group has been recognized for pride displayed in our veterans at a national level.
You can help support the local Wreaths Across America KS 0049 for Fort Scott National Cemetery by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day 2024 on Saturday, December 14. Each $17.00 sponsorship will sponsor a wreath to be placed on the headstone of an American hero. To sponsor a wreath, contact Location Coordinator Diann Tucker, 620-224-7054, or Mika, 620-223-6700. Wreaths Across America is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony.
