Cropland

Buffer Strips/Field Borders

Strip of permanent vegetation established at the edge or around the perimeter of a field.  Plants selected for field borders will have the physical characteristics necessary to control wind and water erosion to tolerable levels on the field border area.

This practice may be applied to accomplish one or more of the following:

• Reduce erosion from wind and water
• Protect soil and water quality
• Manage pest populations
• Provide wildlife food and cover
• Increase carbon storage
• Improve air quality 

Chemical Handling/Storage Facility

Facility with an impervious surface that provides an environmentally safe area for the handling of on-farm agrichemicals.  Installed to provide a safe environment on farm and ranch operations for the storage, mixing, loading and cleanup of agrichemicals, which retains incidental spillage, retains leakage and reduce pollution to surface water, groundwater, air, and/or soil.

Composting Facility

Facility to process raw manure or other raw organic by-products into biologically stable organic material. This will reduce the pollution potential of organic agricultural wastes to surface and ground water.  Size the compost facility to accommodate the amount of raw material planned for active composting plus space required for curing.   Dimensions selected for elements of the compost facility should accommodate equipment used for loading, unloading, and aeration.  Facility sizing for compost bedded pack barns shall consider the average number and size of animals contributing to the compost bedded pack barns.

Conservation Crop Rotation

Growing crops in a recurring sequence on the same field for a desired outcome.  A conservation crop rotation may include crops planted simply for cover or for nutrient enhancement.  Crops are selected to produce sufficient quantities of biomass at the appropriate time to reduce erosion by water or wind to within acceptable soil loss levels.

Implementing a crop rotation system can:

• Reduce sheet and rill erosion
• Reduce soil erosion from wind
• Maintain or improve soil organic matter content
• Manage the balance of plant nutrients
• Improve water use efficiency
• Manage saline seeps
• Manage plant pests (weeds, insects, and diseases)
• Provide food for domestic livestock
• Provide food and cover for wildlife

Cover Crop

Crops including grasses, legumes and forbs are planted for seasonal cover and other conservation purposes.  Cover crop establishment, in conjunction with other practices, is timed so that the soil will be adequately protected during the critical erosion period(s).

Installing cover crops can:

• Reduce erosion from wind and water
• Increase soil organic matter content
• Capture and recycle or redistribute nutrients in the soil profile
• Promote biological nitrogen fixation
• Increase biodiversity
• Pest suppression
• Provide supplemental forage
• Soil moisture management
• Reduce particulate emissions into the atmosphere
• Minimize and reduce soil compaction

Grassed Waterways

Natural or constructed channel that is shaped or graded to required dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.

Applied as part of a conservation management system to support one or more of the following purposes:

• To safely convey runoff from terraces, diversions, or other water concentrations without causing erosion or flooding
• To reduce gully erosion
• To protect/improve water quality

Heavy Use Area Protection

Stabilization of areas frequently and intensively used by people, animals or vehicles by establishing vegetative cover, by surfacing with suitable materials, and/or by installing needed structures.

Applied as part of a conservation management system to support one or more of the following purposes:

• Reduce soil erosion
• Improve water quantity and quality
• Improve air quality
• Improve aesthetics
• Improve livestock health

Integrated Pest Management

Utilizing environmentally sensitive prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies, to manage weeds, insects, diseases, animals and other organisms (including invasive and non-invasive species), that directly or indirectly cause damage or annoyance.

Applied as part of a Resource Management System (RMS) to support one or more of the following purposes:

• Enhance quantity and quality of commodities
• Minimize negative impacts of pest control on soil resources, water resources, air resources, plant resources, animal resources and/or humans

Irrigation - Microirrigation System

Irrigation system for frequent application of small quantities of water on or below the soil surface: as drops, tiny streams or miniature spray through emitters or applicators placed along a water delivery line.

Installing a microirrigation, or drip, system will:

• Efficiently and uniformly apply irrigation water and maintain soil moisture for plant growth
• To prevent contamination of ground and surface water by efficiently and uniformly applying chemicals
• To establish desired vegetation

Irrigation - Sprinkler Irrigation System

Irrigation system in which all necessary equipment and facilities are installed for efficiently applying water by means of nozzles operated under pressure.

Applied as part of a conservation management system to achieve one or more of the following:

• Efficiently and uniformly apply irrigation water to maintain adequate soil water for the desired level of plant growth and production without causing excessive water loss, erosion, or water quality impairment, climate control and/or modification
• Applying chemicals, nutrients, and/or waste water
• Leaching for control or reclamation of saline or sodic soils
• Reduction in particulate matter emissions to improve air quality

Irrigation Water Management

Process of determining and controlling the volume, frequency and application rate of irrigation water in a planned, efficient manner. 

Implementing an Irrigation Water Management Plan will help to:

• Manage soil moisture to promote desired crop response
• Optimize use of available water supplies
• Minimize irrigation induced soil erosion
• Decrease non-point source pollution of surface and groundwater resources
• Manage salts in the crop root zone
• Manage air, soil, or plant micro-climate
• Proper and safe chemigation or fertigation
• Improve air quality by managing soil moisture to reduce particulate matter movement

Nutrient Management

Manage the amount, source, placement, form and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments.  A nutrient budget for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) shall be developed that considers all potential sources of nutrients including, but not limited to, animal manure and organic by-products, waste water, commercial fertilizer, crop residues, legume credits, and irrigation water. 

Creating and implementing a Nutrient Management Plan will help:

• Budget and supply adequate nutrients for plant production
• To properly utilize manure or organic by-products as a plant nutrient source
• To minimize agricultural non-point source pollution of surface and ground water resources
• To maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil
• To protect air quality by reducing nitrogen emissions (ammonia and NOx compounds) and the formulation of atmospheric particulates

Residue Management - No till

Managing the amount, orientation and distribution of a crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year round while limiting soil-disturbing activities to only those necessary to place nutrients, condition residue and plant crops.  This practice includes planting methods commonly referred to as no-till, strip till, direct seed, zero till, slot till or zone till. Approved implements are: no-till and strip-till planters; certain drills and air seeders; strip-type fertilizer and manure injectors and applicators; in-row chisels; and similar implements that only disturb strips and slots.

Implementing a no till system will:

• Reduce sheet and rill erosion
• Reduce wind erosion
• Improve soil organic matter content
• Reduce carbon dioxide losses from the soil
• Reduce soil particulate emissions
• Increase plant-available moisture

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