Specifications include, but are not limited to: Permit to operate 365 acres + /- of cropland on Otter Creek Wildlife Area in Coffee County, Kansas. 4.1.1 The permit will be bid on a cash payment ($/acre) basis. The permit will be awarded for an initial term of 2 years and maybe renewed for up to 2 additional terms of up to 2 years, each term. 4.1.2. The contractor should be aware that the Department is primarily involved in wildlife management. Wildlife management objectives will be used to determine cropping years, patterns, and other considerations. 4.1.3. Generally, approximately 50% of tracts will be planted to beans and 50% to corn each year. Double cropping and planting of wheat may be permitted on a year-to-year basis. Planting of cover crops will be considered on a case-by-case basis. See Special Provisions. 4.1.4. The permittee will contact the Department at least 7 days before harvest begins. The permittee must leave crop standing as specified in Table at no cost to the Department. The location of the crop to be left standing will be determined by the Department. 4.1.5. Generally, crops will be harvested for grain. Harvest of crops for forage will be considered on a case-by-case basis, at the Department’s discretion. Unless otherwise negotiated, crops harvested for forage will be purchased based on the estimated grain production (yield established by an appraisal, as needed) and grain price, rather than forage yield and price. 4.1.6. The Department reserves the right to purchase additional crops to be left in the field for wildlife benefits. Additional standing grain will be purchased by the Department at the price per bushel recorded by the local elevator on the date of harvest less the state average for custom harvesting per bushel as noted in the Rates Paid by Kansas Farmers for Custom Work (Current Edition) (this is a publication of the Kansas Department of Agriculture). 4.1.7. 50% of cash payment will be made by April 1 each crop year and 50% will be paid 14 days after harvest, but no later than December 1 of the same year. 4.1.8. Portions of tracts in Groups 1 are within the floodplain and are subject to flooding. No compensation will be provided by the Department for crops lost due to natural flooding or other acts of nature. 4.1.9. The permittee is required to take due care to avoid damage to Department infrastructure (i.e., levees, trails, crossings, etc.). 4.1.10. The use of pesticides and herbicides is limited.
