Does Your Property Need A Conservation Buffer?

What are Conservation Buffers? A conservation buffer is a narrow strip of land consisting of a permanent vegetation type, such as grass, trees, shrubs or a combination of the three, planted along the edge of a stream or pond. The benefits of these buffers are many, and can have a positive impact on your property. Listed below are several of the advantages associated with conservation buffers.

• Reduce the risk of water contamination by catching pesticides and fertilizers before they can wash into streams and ponds.
• Provide the habitat needed by wildlife and aquatic animals and plants.
• Provide a safety zone between the field and the edge of a stream to keep equipment and operators away from the edge of steep embankments.
• Can help reduce or slow down steep bank erosion by establishing permanent vegetation.
• Eliminate farming of wet areas along streams and ponds that are often difficult to manage profitably.
• Eliminate following the edge of a meandering stream that can lead to many short crop rows.
• Provide an area for alternative crop production.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers an annual rental payment for establishing or improving conservation buffers. The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) assists with 90% of the average cost of establishing these buffer strips. The program also provides an annual payment based on soil rental rates determined for each county. The annual payments are generally between $120 and $150 per acre per contract year. The contract length is from 10 to 15 years. There is also a one time incentive payment of $10 per acre for each year of the contract.

Continuous CRP is an open enrollment program. A landowner or operator may sign up for the program at any time with their local FSA office. The State of Nebraska, Local Natural Resources District (NRD) and other non-profit groups may have additional programs to help get conservation buffers planted along streams and ponds. For more information on this program, contact you local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service , USDA Farm Service Agency , or Natural Resources District office .

This information was taken from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Growing Green Southeast District Forestry newsletter. Sarah Browning is an Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Dodge and Saunders Counties. She can be contacted by phone at 727-2775: by mail at 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025: or by e-mail at sbrowning2@unl.edu