Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District

Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout the state provide financial incentives to landowners to implement conservation practices.

History of the Soil and Water Conservation Program
In the 1930s, as the Dust Bowl swept across the nation relocating an estimated 300 million tons of soil, Americans realized the devastating effects of soil erosion. Legislation began to take shape to better manage and conserve the nation’s soil. Despite these actions, Missouri was still plagued with high erosion rates. In 1982, Missouri was losing

soil at a rate of 10.9 tons per acre each year on cultivated cropland. A one-tenth-of-one-percent parks, soils and water sales tax was passed by Missouri voters in 1984 to fund state parks and soil and water conservation efforts. Prior to the passage of the sales tax, Missouri had the second highest rate of erosion in the nation. Almost two-thirds of Missouri voters renewed the tax in 1988 and 1996. In 2006, the tax passed by its highest percentage to date (70.8). Since 1982, Missouri’s erosion rate dropped more than any other state. It is estimated that more than 148 million tons of soil have been saved since the start of the sales tax, but millions of tons of soil still wash away every year on cultivated cropland in Missouri. The majority of the soils side of this tax has been used to assist agricultural landowners through voluntary programs that are developed by the Soil and Water Districts Commission. They are administered by the Soil and Water Conservation Program through district boards in each of the 114 counties. The cost-share program provides financial incentives to landowners for up to 75 percent of the cost for installation of soil conservation practices that prevent or control excessive erosion. Soil and water conservation districts provide technical support with the design, implementation and maintenance of practices. By promoting good farming techniques that help keep soil on the fields and waters clean, each soil and water conservation district is conserving the productivity of Missouri’s working lands.

03/17/2026
Dallas County Board of Supervisors Election
01/29/2026

Dallas County Board of Supervisors Election

The USDA in Buffalo will be closed November 27 & 28th. We will reopen on Monday, December 1st.
11/25/2025

The USDA in Buffalo will be closed November 27 & 28th. We will reopen on Monday, December 1st.

The USDA Office in Buffalo is open again, this includes NRCS, the Dallas County SWCD and MDC.
11/13/2025

The USDA Office in Buffalo is open again, this includes NRCS, the Dallas County SWCD and MDC.

SEEKING NOMINEESDallas County SWCD Board of SupervisorsLet it be known that the Dallas County Soil and Water Conservatio...
10/31/2025

SEEKING NOMINEES
Dallas County SWCD Board of Supervisors

Let it be known that the Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold an election for one supervisor in each of two different territories in the county on February 1-20, 2026. Anyone that owns a farm in Territory I I– all areas South of State Highway 64 and North of State Highway 32 or Territory IV - all areas east of County Road H and State Highway 38 and South of State Highway 32, and meets the qualifications listed below, may be considered as a candidate in the election. You may submit your name for participation in the election by completing the self-nomination form and delivering it to the district by 4:30 p.m. on December 2, 2025. The self-nomination form is available online at https://mosoilandwater.land/Dallas or in person at the district office (see contact info below).

Supervisors of the district administer district policies and programs, district personnel, and cost-share funding made available by the one-tenth-of-one-percent parks, soils and water sales tax. During fiscal year 2025, the district provided $112,986.60 of cost-share funds to 20 landowners to assist the landowners with installing agricultural erosion control and water quality practices.

The qualifications required to be a supervisor are:

1. Being a land representative from the district (10 CSR 70-4.010 (1) (I)). A land representative is defined as the owner or representative authorized by power of attorney of any farm lying within an area proposed to be established, and subsequently established, as a soil and water conservation district under Chapter 278, RSMo. Each farm is entitled to representation by a land representative: provided, however that the land representative is a taxpayer of the county within which the soil and water district is located.
2. Residing in, or owning a farm in, the area from which he/she is nominated where there is an expiring term.
3. Being a cooperator of the district, defined as, "a person who is actively engaged in farming and practices conservation activities related to agriculture".
4. Being a current resident and tax-paying citizen of the county for at least two years preceding the election date.
5. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older by the election date.

Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District
1240 West Truman
Buffalo, Missouri 65622
417-345-2312

The Dallas County SWCD office is closed due to the government shutdown. If you need assistance with cost-share and rent...
10/01/2025

The Dallas County SWCD office is closed due to the government shutdown. If you need assistance with cost-share and rental equipment, please contact Reese Johnson at 417-701-1806.

Address

1240 West Truman
Buffalo, MO
65622

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14173452312

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District:

Shortcuts

Share

Category