Buffers

Buffers improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Have you "Tried Buffers Yet"? Click here for a pdf document on Buffers.
 

Filter Strips

Strips of grass used to intercept or trap sediment and pesticides before they reach a body of water.  A properly installed buffer can effectively trap 90% of sediment and nitrate moving from a farm field.  A field strip can be 30 to 120 feet wide.  The two basic seeding plans are native grasses or a brome/alfalfa mix.  Areas can be grazed 2 months out of the year with 20% reduction in payment.  90% of establishment costs apply.

Buffer Strips

Streamside vegetation consisting of trees, shrubs, and grasses for intercepting pollutants from a farm field.  Soil is generally lower producing along streams and rivers; making it more suitable for trees and shrubs.  The plantings may help with stream bank stabilization.  Riparian buffers can be 35 to 180 feet.  No grazing is allowed.  Can be done on pasture ground with a payment of $87 per acre.  90% cost-share up to $500 per acre applies.

Contour Buffer Strips

Strips of grass alternated with wider strips of cropland farmed on the contour.  Contour buffer strips can reduce sheet erosion and movement of pollutants.  Conservation plans calling for field borders can be integrated into this practice.  The border will be added to the acreage eligible for payment.  Widths will vary from field to field.  In order to be eligible, ground must have at least a C-slope.

Grass Waterways

Strips of grass on areas where water concentrates as it runs off a field.  Used primarily to prevent gully erosion.  Land is eligible for CRP waterways if no waterway has existed the preceding two years.  For CRP waterways, 90% cost-share is available.  Any CRP waterway must be built to the governmental specs in order to be eligible.