Butler County farmer Ferdie Reed watched as workers closed a 250-foot hole in the levee protecting his home and cropland, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Farmers in the Lower Missouri-Crooked River watershed in west-central Missouri who have shown a commitment to natural resources conservation may be eligible to participate in the next Conservation Security Program (CSP) sign up beginning April 18.

Individuals and communities in portions of Missouri that sustained damages from recent flooding caused by heavy rains March 18-19 might be eligible for federal assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Roger Hansen, state conservationist, says a request for funds under NRCS’ Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is pending.