TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) reports that crucial federal dollars that it uses to help rural farmers by fighting wildfires and invasive pests are missing this year.
State Forester Jason Hartman said in a press release on July 15 that expected disbursements of federal dollars through the U.S. Forest Service’s (FS) State, Private and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) programs have yet to arrive. He said the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is holding back the current year’s SPTF funds that were appropriated by Congress in early 2025.
The KFS previously put out a call for help in May ahead of approval on this year’s controversial federal budget due to the cuts it would make to the service’s ability to help farmers combat wildfires and resist layoffs. The FS told state forestry agencies nationwide on June 28 to prepare for the possibility of no funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2025.
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“In a normal year, States would have agreements in place by now for the suite of state capacity programs we together deliver for forest landowners, communities, and firefighters.”
KFS Jason Hartman press release excerpt
Hartman listed off numerous ways the loss of federal dollars would negatively impact the Sunflower State in the days ahead. Some of the chief losses include the following:
Rural fire departments
- More than 50 training courses per year that provide training to more than 1,500 rural firefighters.
- Federal excess property including trucks, generators and hand-tools.
- 30 public education events.
- Direct assistance with more than 4,000 wildfires each year.
Kansas landowners
- Nearly 200 technical assistance consultations.
- Plans for the creation of more than 40 windbreaks.
- More than 60 forest management practice plans.
- Hundreds of forestry cost-share program contracts.
Rural communities
- Support for more than 90 Tree City USA locations.
- Dozens of educational workshops.
- Hundreds of technical assistance visits.
- 20 rural community canopy inventories.
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Hartman also said the funding losses will prevent the KFS from providing resources necessary to track, detect, identify and monitor invasive pests that threaten Kansas’ wooded areas. He said it isn’t known why the OMB has yet to disperse the appropriated funds from Congress but the continued delay is harming the Sunflower State.
“Despite being designated for urgent use, these funds remain inaccessible. For them to truly benefit Kansas communities, the Kansas Forest Service must receive them with enough lead time to prepare and execute grant agreements before OMB’s August 15th deadline. Without timely action from OMB, these resources risk going unused, despite their clear intent and need.”
KFS Jason Hartman press release excerpt
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