05/20/2025 Commissioners Meeting [5:00-10:03]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by land dedicated to growing food and raising livestock. And we just out farm, we lead. Lawrence County is proud to be the third highest beef producing county in the state. On the first sheet of the packet that I gave you, you'll notice on the backside, Lawrence County Nutrient and Sediment Load Reduction Sheet. Lawrence County has a total of 287,475 acres. 188,000 are agriculture acres. 155,000 of those are forest and wetland acres. 23,000 are developed acres. Agriculture comes with a challenge, erosion, nutrient loss, and water management. And that's where Lawrence County soil and water makes a real difference. On the next page, the fast facts on the bottom part in 2024 alone, Lawrence County soil and water conservation district provided over $250,000 in cost share assistance to local farmers. Covering practices that supported more than 7,000 acres of farmland. That is 7,000 acres where conservation practices are now helping protect soil health, improve water quality, and boost productivity. And it doesn't stop there. Our district is also offered technical assistance to over 368 individuals just last year. Since 2020, Lawrence County soil and water conservation district received $640,000 in cost share grants. And then also an educator grant in 2024 for $62,000. These are grants that we apply for. Clean water and DNA and the 319 grants are available in every county in the state. But not every county pursues the opportunity to do the extra workload that a grant requires. So the water conservation district grants pay out 75% of landowner costs. This is $640,000. This $640,000 does not include the investment, which may range from 25% to 50% of the landowner pays. Quick math that is almost $1,000,000. On the next page is total conservation and investment