Buffers Overview
Benefits of Buffers
Economics of Buffers

Conservation buffers are a common-sense way to protect your most valuable asset--your land--and demonstrate your personal commitment to conservation.

Overview

Best described as small strips or areas of land in permanent vegetation, buffers can be used along streams and around lakes or wetlands. They can also be installed at field edges or within fields. To maximize their effectiveness, buffers should be used in combination with other conservation practices.

Conservation buffers can be especially helpful in maintaining a productive, profitable and responsible farming or ranching operation. America's farms and ranches today produce more than crops and livestock. They also generate environmental benefits. Conservation buffers can help you protect soil, air and water quality; improve fish and wildlife habitat and demonstrate a commitment to land stewardship.

Benefits

Buffers slow water runoff, trap sediment, and enhance infiltration within the buffer. They also trap fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals, and help trap snow and cut down on blowing soil in areas with strong winds. In addition, they protect livestock and wildlife from harsh weather and buildings from wind damage. If properly installed and maintained, they have the capacity to:

• remove up to 50 percent or more of nutrients and pesticides.
• remove up to 60 percent or more of certain pathogens.
• remove up to 75 percent or more of sediment.

Economics

Conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), make the use of conservation buffers economically attractive while focusing on improving environmental concerns.

Continuous CRP provides 50 percent of the cost to establish the practice, annual rental rates, plus up to a 20 percent incentive for the areas being taken out of crop production. In addition, enhancements equal to 40 percent of the installation cost and a signing incentive of up to $150 per acre are also available. In essence, producers will receive 90 percent cost share for practice installation along with annual rental payments.

The offer will be automatically accepted if all eligibility requirements are met. Some buffer practices eligible for the continuous CRP sign-up include: riparian forest buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, field windbreaks, living snow fences, contour grass strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, cross-wind trap strips, and salt-tolerant vegetation.

The Continuous CRP program may be an opportunity to enroll areas of land that were not previously accepted in a general CRP sign-up. It provides an excellent opportunity to enroll areas of marginally productive land and still farm the best ground.

There may be additional funding sources to help landowners implement these types of practices. Contact the South Dakota Buffer Team member for eastern South Dakota: Blain Hieb (605) 360-7576; or contact the South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service or conservation district staff generally located in your local USDA Service Center.

For more information on the national conservation buffers program, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the National Conservation Buffer Council websites.

Enhancement Program Means 90% Cost Share for Some Buffer Practices

To learn more about changes to cost share rates, rental rates, and acreage restricions for various buffer practices, follow these links:

FSA Fact Sheet

NACD
Farm Bill Net

SD Producers and Buffers Featured in National Media

Read this story.

Build a Buffer

Computer Model

Detailed planting and design standards and specifications tailored to South Dakota are available through the NRCS State and field offices.

Where Can I Get Help?

Talk to your local conservation district or NRCS staff for help with planning buffer practices and potential financial assistance to implement those practices.

For eastern South Dakota, contact the South Dakota Buffer Team member:

Blain Hieb
(605) 360-7576

NACD Buffer Notes Newsletter & Archives

This site updated on:
May 1, 2005

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