Soil and Water Conservation Program SALT Eligible Practices

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Eligible Practices and Additional Water Quality Incentives

DSL-1 PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER ESTABLISHMENT
PURPOSE To protect the soil and reduce the pollution of water, air or land from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources by controlling erosion.
APPLICABILITY To farm or ranch land subject to wind or water erosion, to be established in permanent vegetative cover.

DSL-2 PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER IMPROVEMENT
PURPOSE To protect the soil and reduce the pollution of water, air or land from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources by controlling erosion.
APPLICABILITY To farm or ranch land in permanent vegetative cover that needs improvement in order to provide adequate soil protection.

DSL-4 and DSL-44 TERRACE SYSTEMS WITH OR WITHOUT TILE
PURPOSE To control erosion on cropland and prevent or reduce pollution of water, land or air from agricultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To cropland subject to erosion from water runoff.

DSL-5 DIVERSION
PURPOSE To control erosion, and prevent or reduce pollution of land, water or air from agricultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To farmland subject to erosion from excess surface or subsurface water runoff where the problem can be corrected by such diversion facilities.

DSL-11 and DSL-111 PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER ON CRITICAL AREAS and/or CONFINED ANIMAL FEED LOTS (DSL-111 is available for regular cost-share only)
PURPOSE To establish vegetative cover to protect the soil and reduce the pollution of water, air or land from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources by controlling erosion.
APPLICABILITY To critical areas (such as gullies, banks, roadsides, field borders and similar problem areas) on farms which are susceptible to erosion or where runoff, carrying substantial amounts of a sediment, constitutes a significant pollution hazard, or where both exist.

DSL-15 NO-TILL SYSTEMS
PURPOSE To demonstrate no-till systems of farming with residue management to:

Protect soil from wind and water erosion.
Stop or reduce pollution from sediment and chemically contaminated runoff from agricultural nonpoint sources.
Conserve energy.

APPLICABILITY To cropland for reduction of erosion, sediment, and pollution while being devoted to the production of crops.

DFR-4 FOREST PLANTATION
PURPOSE To protect the soil and to encourage the conversion of marginal soils to less intensive use, and to reduce soil erosion from agricultural sources.
APPLICABILITY For land to be converted to woodland. For the special purpose of this practice, cleared riparian areas (stream floodplains) and upland soils with slopes exceeding 10 percent are exempted from the program requirement of excessive erosion.

DFR-5 WOODLAND PROTECTION THROUGH LIVESTOCK EXCLUSION
PURPOSE To protect soil and plant resources from grazing by domestic livestock.
APPLICABILITY To existing woodland areas susceptible to excessive erosion due to livestock grazing. For the special purpose of this practice, riparian areas (stream floodplains) and upland soils with slopes exceeding 10 percent are exempted from the program requirement of excessive erosion.

DWC-1 WATER IMPOUNDMENT RESERVOIRS
PURPOSE To control soil erosion, prevent or reduce water pollution, and reduce agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources of pollution. Structures that provide secondary benefits in addition to erosion control and water conservation will be encouraged. Examples of secondary benefits include items such as water conservation for agricultural and wildlife uses, livestock watering and fire protection.
APPLICABILITY To farm or ranch land on which the construction of a water impoundment structure is necessary to erosion control.

DWP-1 SEDIMENT RETENTION, EROSION OR WATER CONTROL STRUCTURES
PURPOSE To prevent or reduce erosion and prevent or reduce pollution of the land or water from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To specific problem areas on farms where runoff of substantial amounts of sediment or runoff containing pesticides or fertilizers constitute a significant pollution hazard.

DWP-3 SOD WATERWAYS
PURPOSE To prevent or reduce existing erosion and prevent or reduce pollution of water or land from agricultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To farmland needing permanent sod waterways to safely convey excess surface runoff water in a manner that will reduce erosion.

DSP-2 PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER ENHANCEMENT
PURPOSE To improve the productive cover of existing pastureland with the demonstration of no-till, inter-seeding of legumes by the use of no-till drills; to protect the soil and prevent the pollution of air, land or water from agricultural uses.
APPLICABILITY To pastureland only where non-woody, permanent vegetative cover is in poor or very poor condition, with less than thirty percent (30%) introduced legumes, to be improved to good condition; or to fescue pastureland in better than poor condition with less than thirty percent (30%) introduced legumes and where fescue-endophyte fungus infestation levels are greater than thirty percent (30%) and less than seventy percent (70%).

In the case of fescue eligibility, the percent legume in the fescue pasture must be less than thirty percent (30%). Lespedeza is excluded from the measurement. The fescue-endophyte infestation level must be greater than thirty percent (30%) and less than seventy percent (70%) as determined by a proper endophyte test. Refer to NRCS Technical Note No. 17.

For purposes of this practice, poor pasture condition shall include "poor" and "very poor", with numeric values of 20 or less as determined by the use of the JS-Agron 24.

mDSP-2 MODIFIED PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER ENHANCEMENT
(Reference the AgNPS SALT Handbook for modifications of this practice from the regular state cost-share practice, DSP-2, applicable to AgNPS SALT projects)
PURPOSE To improve the productive cover of existing pastureland with the demonstration of no-till, inter-seeding of legumes by the use of no-till drills; to protect the soil and prevent the pollution of air, land or water from agricultural uses.
APPLICABILITY To pastureland only where non-woody, permanent vegetative cover is in poor or very poor condition, with less than thirty percent (30%) introduced legumes, to be improved to good condition; or to fescue pastureland in better than poor condition with less than thirty percent (30%) introduced legumes and where fescue-endophyte fungus infestation levels are greater than thirty percent (30%) and less than seventy percent (70%).

For purposes of this practice, poor pasture condition shall include "poor" and "very poor", with numeric values of 20 or less as determined by the use of the JS-Agron 24.

DSP-3, DSP-33 and DSP-333 PLANNED GRAZING SYSTEMS PRACTICE WITH OR WITHOUT POND OR WELL
PURPOSE To effect economically and environmentally sound agricultural land management on pastureland by demonstrating the best use of the soil and water resources through the use of rotational grazing. Environmental benefits include erosion control and/or prevention, and water quality protection.
APPLICABILITY To pastureland where non-woody, permanent vegetative cover is established and can be enhanced through the use of a planned grazing system. As a minimum, the landowner must be willing to follow an approved grazing system, as developed in conjunction with NRCS, based on the needs of the landowner.

DSP-31 SINKHOLE IMPROVEMENT TO CONTROL GULLY EROSION
PURPOSE To prevent or reduce erosion and prevent or reduce pollution of the land or water from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To specific problem areas on farms where runoff to sinkholes causes gully erosion and carries substantial amounts of sediment or runoff containing pesticides or nutrients, which constitute a significant pollution hazard. Limited to karst areas of Perry, Ste. Genevieve, and Cape Girardeau counties bounded by I-55 to the west, Route 32 to the north, and Route 177 to the south.

N317 COMPOSTING FACILITY
PURPOSE

To treat waste organic material biologically by producing a humus-like material that can be recycled as a soil amendment and fertilizer substitute or otherwise utilized in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations.
Waste organic material for composting may include livestock and poultry manure, dead animal carcasses, and food processing wastes where food is processed as part of normal farming operations.

APPLICABILITY This practice applies where:

Waste organic material is generated by agricultural production or processing.
Composting is needed to manage the waste organic material properly.
An overall waste management system has been planned that accounts for the end use of the composted material.

N332 CONTOUR BUFFER STRIPS
PURPOSE To reduce sheet and rill erosion and to reduce transport of sediment and other water-borne contaminants downslope, on-site or off-site.
APPLICABILITY

This practice applies on sloping cropland to reduce sheet and rill erosion and sediment yield.
This practice is impractical on undulating to rolling topography because of the difficulty of maintaining parallel strip boundaries across the hill slope or staying within row grade limits.
The narrow buffer strips of permanent vegetative cover are not considered a part of the normal crop rotation.

N585 CONTOUR STRIPCROPPING
PURPOSE This practice may be applied as part of a conservation management system to support one or more of the following:

Reduce sheet and rill erosion
Reduce transport of sediment and other water-borne contaminants.

APPLICABILITY To sloping land where crops are grown and where it is an essential part of the cropping system to reduce sheet and rill erosion or sediment yield.

N386 FIELD BORDER
PURPOSE This practice may be applied as part of a conservation management system to support one or more of the following:

Protect soil and water quality by trapping sediment, chemicals, and other pollutants.
Reduce erosion from wind and water.

APPLICABILITY At the edges of crop fields and to connect other buffer practices within a field. May also apply to other land uses where agronomic crops are grown.

N393 FILTER STRIP
PURPOSE To reduce erosion and prevent or reduce pollution of land or water from agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint sources.
APPLICABILITY To areas determined through technical evaluation, such as edges or borders at the lower end of sloping tilled cropland, or located in areas to break long slopes of tilled cropland.

N316 INCINERATOR
PURPOSE To incinerate livestock and poultry carcasses as part of a waste management system to decrease nonpoint source pollution of surface and groundwater resources.

APPLICABILITY This practice applies where:

A waste management plan has been developed for the livestock or poultry operation.
Animal carcass disposal must be addressed as part of a waste management system for the operation. Only dead animals may be incinerated. Incineration of any other type of waste material is NOT allowed.
Where on-farm treatment and disposal is permitted by federal, state and local laws.

N442 IRRIGATION SYSTEM, SPRINKLER
PURPOSE Efficiently and uniformly apply irrigation water to maintain water quality through proper application of nutrients and chemicals to reduce water quality impairments.
APPLICABILITY

Sprinkler irrigation plans shall be based on an evaluation of the site and the expected operation conditions.
The soils and topography shall be suitable for irrigation of the proposed crops.
Enough good-quality water shall be available for practical irrigation of the crops to be grown.
The sprinkler method of water application is suited to most crops except rice, to most irrigatable lands, and to most climatic conditions where irrigated agriculture is feasible.

N443 IRRIGATION SYSTEM, SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE
PURPOSE Efficiently convey and distribute irrigation water to the point of application without causing excessive erosion, water losses, or reduction in water quality.
APPLICABILITY

Areas must be suitable for irrigation with the quality of water available.
Water supplies must be sufficient in quantity and quality to make irrigation practical for the crops to be grown and also must be adequate for the water application methods to be used.
Each irrigation system must be designed as an integral part of an overall plan of conservation land use and treatment for the farm that is based on the capabilities of the land and the needs of the farm enterprise.

N447 IRRIGATION SYSTEM, TAILWATER RECOVERY
PURPOSE Conserve farm irrigation water supplies and water quality by collecting the water that runs off the field surface for reuse on the farm.
APPLICABILITY

Tailwater recovery systems are suitable for use on sloping lands that are served by a properly designed and installed surface irrigation system to facilitate the conservation use of soil and water resources.
They are also suitable for use in areas where recoverable irrigation runoff flows or can be anticipated under the management practices used or expected to be used.

N430 IRRIGATION WATER CONVEYANCE
PURPOSE Prevent erosion or loss of water quality or damage to land, to make possible proper water use, and to reduce water conveyance losses.
APPLICABILITY

Areas must be suitable for irrigation with quality of water available.
All pipelines shall be planned and located to serve as an integral part of an irrigation water distribution system designed to facilitate the conservation of water on a farm.
Water supplies and irrigation deliveries to the area shall be sufficient to make irrigation practical for the crops to be grown and the irrigation water application methods to be used.
On land which has implemented an Irrigation Management Plan.

N634 MANURE TRANSFER
PURPOSE To transfer animal manure (bedding material, spilled feed, process and wash water, and other residues associated with animal production may be included) through a hopper or reception pit, a pump (if applicable), a conduit, and/or equipment to:

A manure storage/treatment facility.
A loading area.
Agricultural land for final utilization. This includes application of manure to the utilization area.

APPLICABILITY

The manure transfer component is a part of a planned agricultural manure management system.
When manure is generated by livestock production or processing; and a conveyance system is necessary to transfer manure from the source to a storage/treatment facility and/or a loading area, and/or from storage/treatment to an area for utilization.

N590 NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
PURPOSE To supply plant nutrients while minimizing entry of nutrients to surface and ground water.
APPLICABILITY On lands where plant nutrients (commercial fertilizers) are applied and/or where cultural practices are conducted that release nutrients.

N595 PEST MANAGEMENT
PURPOSE This practice may be applied as part of a conservation management system to support one or more of the following:

Develop a pest management program that is environmentally acceptable.
Assure the judicious, justifiable use of pesticides consistent with selected crop production goals.

APPLICABILITY On cropland and other land where pest control is needed.

N655 RESTORATION OF SKID TRAILS, LOGGING ROADS, STREAM CROSSINGS AND LOG LANDINGS
PURPOSE Provide financial assistance for non-industrial private forest landowners for implementing practices for controlling gully erosion on skid trails, logging roads, stream crossings and log landings that have been improperly constructed during a timber harvest prior to the start of the AgNPS SALT Project.
APPLICABILITY To control or prevent erosion on land with existing tree cover where improper harvest has taken place.

N391 RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFER
PURPOSE Reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow with a secondary benefit of streambank stabilization.
APPLICABILITY On areas adjacent to permanent or intermittent streams, public drinking water reservoirs, wetlands and ground water recharge areas.

N725 SINKHOLE TREATMENT
PURPOSE

Improve quality of recharge waters entering the groundwater system.
Improve the quality of the ground resource.
Improve chemical and nutrient management within sinkhole watersheds.
Reduce soil erosion within sinkhole watersheds.

APPLICABILITY In areas where karst features (sinkholes) are present which exhibit the potential to deliver surface water pollutants or contaminants to the groundwater system.

N574 SPRING DEVELOPMENT
PURPOSE To protect and enhance water quality through proper collection and distribution of the ground water resource.
APPLICABILITY In an area where livestock has free access to a spring or seep and the development will provide a dependable supply of suitable water for distribution.

N587 STRUCTURE FOR WATER CONTROL
PURPOSE To control water quality such as sediment reduction and reduced use of pesticides.
APPLICABILITY

This practice applies to structures normally installed in a well-planned irrigation or drainage system, or other water management system for the conveyance, flow control, or level regulation of water but not head-cut control or grade stabilization.
This practice applies wherever a permanent structure is needed as an integral part of an irrigation, drainage, or other water-control system to serve one or more of the following functions:
- To conduct water from one elevation to a lower elevation within, to, or from a ditch, channel, or canal. Typical structures are: drops; chutes; turnouts; surface water inlets; head gates; pump boxes; and stilling basins.
- To control the elevation of water in drainage or irrigation ditches. Typical structures are checks.
- To control the division or measurement of irrigation water. Typical structures are diversion boxes and water measurement devices.

N472 USE EXCLUSION
PURPOSE To protect, maintain or improve the quality of the plant, soil, and water resources.
APPLICABILITY In areas where vegetative establishment and maintenance, soil condition, and water quality are in need of protection.

N312 WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
PURPOSE Manage waste in rural areas in a manner that prevents or minimizes degradation of soil and water resources. Such systems are planned to preclude discharge of pollutants to surface or ground water and to recycle waste through soil and plants to the fullest extent practicable.
APPLICABILITY This practice applies where:

Waste is generated by agricultural production.
All practice components necessary to make a complete system are specified.
Soil, water, and plant resources are adequate to properly manage the waste.

N633 WASTE UTILIZATION
PURPOSE Safely use wastes which are produced on a farm within the SALT watershed, to provide fertility for crop, forage or fiber production, improve or maintain soil structure, prevent erosion and safeguard water resources.
APPLICABILITY On soils and vegetation suitable for the use of wastes as a fertilizer. This includes wastes such as those from farm, feedlot and dairy operations and agricultural processing plants on a farm within the SALT watershed.

N351 WELL DECOMMISSIONING
PURPOSE

Prevent entry of vermin, debris, fertilizer, pesticides or other foreign substances into the well or well bore hole.
Prevent entry of contaminated surface water into the well and the migration of contaminants into the unsaturated (vadose) zone or saturated zone.
Prevent the commingling of chemically or physically different ground waters between separate water bearing zones.

APPLICABILITY

This practice applies to any drilled, dug, driven, bored, or otherwise constructed vertical water well or cistern determined to have no further beneficial use.
This practice does not apply to wells that were used for waste disposal, or if evidence of contamination still exists. Sampling of the fluids in the well may be required.
This practice does not apply to wells that contain contaminant levels that exceed state or federal water quality standards.
Treatment of contamination source(s) is required before a well is decommissioned.

N380 WINDBREAK/SHELTERBELT ESTABLISHMENT
PURPOSE To reduce soil losses from wind erosion, protect growing plants and improve irrigation efficiency to maintain water quality.
APPLICABILITY On any area where woody plants are suited.

C050 ALTERNATIVE WATERING SYSTEM
PURPOSE To encourage landowners to limit or exclude livestock from the stream and streamside management zone and improve water quality by providing an alternative water source.
APPLICABILITY Any site along a stream where livestock have free access to the stream and streamside management zone and the stream provides the primary or sole source of water.

C100 TIMBER HARVEST PLANS
PURPOSE Provide financial assistance for the proper design and the implementation of best management practices on logging roads, stream crossings, log landings, and other constructive measures during timber harvest.
APPLICABILITY On land where the landowner is planning to conduct a timber sale. Payment will be received after the timber sale.

C650 STREAMBANK STABILIZATION
PURPOSE To protect streambanks from accelerated erosion, provide adequate streambank vegetation, and improve water quality on a watershed basis.
APPLICABILITY For use on agricultural land along streams where land use has contributed to or created significant streambank erosion problems.

Term Definitions

Best Management Practices (BMPs): Agricultural "Best Management Practices" for pollution control are management practices and structural measures which are determined to be the most effective, practicable means of controlling and preventing pollution from agricultural activities. BMPs are singular practices that, when put together in combination with other practices, will reduce soil erosion, nutrient and pesticide runoff or leaching, and manage animal manure. BMPs are actions taken by each individual agricultural operation to protect water quality while achieving production.

Resource Management System (RMS): combines management and conservation practices that, when installed, will prevent degradation and permit sustained use of the natural resources (soil, water, air, plants, animals) by meeting specific quality criteria.

Integrated Crop Management (ICM): A comprehensive system that involves considering the environment when selecting pesticides and nutrients. ICM emphasizes a more comprehensive systems approach toward agricultural production systems rather than concentrating on the benefits of individual practices. ICM is an informed decision-making process that takes into account production practices, economic, soil and water quality, and nutrient and pest management.

Tolerable Soil Loss value ("T"): The amount of soil loss that can be tolerated each year while still maintaining high soil productivity.

back