CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP)

MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS ON BUFFER PRACTICES

  -------------- ----------- --------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ----------
  Landuser:                            OPID:                           County:                            Date:        

  CRP Contract                                         Tract                             Field                    
  No./Revision                                         No.                               No(s).                   
  No. :                                                                                                           
  -------------- ----------- --------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ----------

MANAGEMENT IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE FOLLOWING Conditions IN
ESTABLISHED COVER

1.  *Sodbound or shaded grasses (excessive mulch/low plant vigor).*

2.  *Lack of plant diversity and proper vegetative cover (vegetative
    cover agreed to in CRP contract is not present).*

3.  *Cover is not providing desired wildlife habitat.*

## MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS DURING THE LIFE OF CONTRACT

**General Requirements and Restrictions**

Following stand establishment, management practices that are not listed
for specific fields below [shall not]{.underline} be used without NRCS
approval. Specifications for interseeding shall be obtained prior to
seeding. Management practices are restricted to the time periods listed
for individual practices and shall not be conducted between May 1 and
July 15 to protect nesting birds and young wildlife, [except when
necessary to control noxious weeds (refer to Nebraska Conservation
Planning Sheet 19).]{.underline}

-   All cover management activities (options listed below) can be
    cost-shared.

-   A mid-contract management activity must be conducted a minimum of
    one time during a ten year contract unless otherwise noted.

-   Contracts longer than ten years in Vegetative Zones III & IV
    (approx. east of Hwy 83), require a minimum of two management
    activities during the contract (a minimum of one management activity
    in Vegetative Zones I & II -- approx. west of Hwy 83).

-   Management activities may be conducted and cost-shared more
    frequently than the required minimum intervals listed, provided that
    the activity is technically justified and not prohibited by 2-CRP
    (rev. 4) paragraph 484.

-   Incidental grazing is allowed on CP-8A (Grass Waterway), CP-15A/B
    (Contour Grass Strips), CP-21 (Filter Strip), and CP-33 (Habitat
    Buffers for Upland Birds) but will not be considered a substitute
    for management on those acres.

-   Consultation with a wildlife biologist is required for management
    activities implemented on wetland acres associated with CP-9,
    CP-23/A, CP-27, & CP-30. Consultation is not required for management
    activities implemented on the buffer acres for wetlands.

-   Refer to Nebraska Conservation Planning Sheet 20D for tree planting
    practices (CP-5A, CP-16A, CP-17A, CP-22, CP-31).

-   Refer to Nebraska Conservation Planning Sheet 20A for (SAFE) CP-38E
    management requirements.

## COVER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Tillage and Interseeding Option

[CRP Practice CP21, CP28, CP29, CP33 PLUS CP9, CP23/A, CP30 (Buffer
Acres Only) -- FOTG Practice 647]{.underline}

-   Vegetative Zones I & II (approx. west of Hwy 83) every 5-7 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Vegetative Zones III & IV (approx. east of Hwy 83) every 3-5 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Tillage may be needed more frequently on sites with aggressive sod
    forming grasses such as smooth brome or switchgrass.

-   Prescribed Burning or other authorized removal of excessive residue
    may be needed prior to interseeding.

-   Interseeding may be conducted without tillage on sandy sites (soils
    with an I factor of 134 or greater) provided an interseeder is used
    or similar device that creates some level of minimal disturbance to
    allow for germination and establishment.

-   Interseeding must be conducted under this option (specifications for
    interseeding must be obtained prior to seeding).

-   Broadcast seeding is only allowed if tillage is completed prior to
    seeding and seeding rates are doubled.

-   Tillage will not be conducted within 50 feet of field boundaries
    along state and county improved roads and highways or within 50 feet
    of property ownership boundaries without the approval of the
    adjacent landowner except as provided for CP-33.

-   [Note]{.underline}: Tillage may occur within the outside edge (50
    feet) of CP-33 field borders provided that tall weedy growth is
    shredded/clipped after July 15^th^ of the first growing season to a
    height not less than 18 inches and not greater than 36 inches.

-   Tillage cannot be conducted between May 1^st^ and July 15^th^ to
    protect nesting birds and young wildlife.

-   Tillage will not be conducted within 30 feet of streams or wetlands,
    on extremely sandy sites, slopes greater than 20%, waterways with
    concentrated flow, and areas with a high risk of noxious weed
    colonization. A minimum level of residue of 30% will be maintained
    on slopes greater than 9% and within 100 feet of streams or other
    permanent waterbody.

-   The Conservation Plan of Operations must include Early Successional
    Habitat Management (647) or be revised to include it.

-   Approved legumes/forbs will be interseeded in conjunction with
    tillage as follows:

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------
  *Approved                     *Alfalfa*             *Red      *Sweet    *Other(s):*   *     *
  Legumes/Forbs                                       clover*   clover*                 
  (circle):*                                                                            

  *Time Frame for                           *     *                                     
  Tillage &                                                                             
  Interseeding:*                                                                        

  *Fields/Acres:*   *     *                                                             
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------

\*Attach a map with acres to receive management noted and additional
details for implementing the tillage/seeding operation.

Interseeding Without Tillage Option

[CRP Practice CP15A/B, CP24 PLUS CP9, CP21, CP23/A, CP28, CP29, CP30
(30' Zone near Stream/Wetland) -- FOTG Practice 647]{.underline}

-   Vegetative Zones I & II (approx. west of Hwy 83) every 5-7 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Vegetative Zones III & IV (approx. east of Hwy 83) every 3-5 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Prescribed Burning or other authorized removal of residue may be
    needed prior to interseeding with an interseeder or similar device
    used to create some limited soil disturbance or a "burn-down"
    herbicide may be needed to reduce competition and allow
    establishment.

  ----------------- --------- --------- ----------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------
  *Approved                             *Alfalfa*   *Red      *Sweet    *Other(s):*   *     *
  Legumes/Forbs                                     clover*   clover*                 
  (circle):*                                                                          

  *Time Frame for             *     *                                                 
  Interseeding:*                                                                      

  *Fields/Acres:*   *     *                                                           
  ----------------- --------- --------- ----------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------

\* Attach a map of area to be interseeded.

Prescribed Burning Option

[CRP Practice CP21, CP27, CP28, CP29, CP33 PLUS CP9, CP23/A, CP30
(Wetland and Buffer Acres) -- FOTG Practice 338]{.underline}

-   Vegetative Zones I & II (approx. west of Hwy 83) every 5-7 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Vegetative Zones III & IV (approx. east of Hwy 83) every 3-5 years
    following stand establishment.

-   This management option may not be appropriate on sandy sites or
    where safety risks exist.

-   Broadcast seeding following a burn is only allowed if tillage is
    completed prior to seeding and seeding rates are doubled.

-   A prescribed burn plan must be developed prior to the burn and must
    comply with state and local laws and regulations (including a burn
    permit from the local fire district), and the Field Office Technical
    Guide standard for Prescribed Burning (338).

-   Interseeding of legumes may be appropriate for this option
    (specifications for interseeding must be obtained prior to seeding).

-   The Conservation Plan of Operations must include Prescribed
    Burning (338) or be revised to include it.

-   Landusers are liable for any damage and are responsible for
    confining prescribed burns to their own land.

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------
  *Approved                     *Alfalfa*   *Red                *Sweet    *Other(s):*   *     *
  Legumes/Forbs                             clover*             clover*                 
  (circle):*                                                                            

  *Time Frame for                                     *     *                           
  Burning and                                                                           
  Interseeding:*                                                                        

  *Fields/Acres:*   *     *                                                             
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------

**\* Attach a map of area to be burned and associated prescribed burning
plan, copy of permit, and other appropriate materials.**

Chemical Herbaceous Vegetation Control

[CRP Practice CP28, CP33 PLUS CP9, CP23/A, CP30 (Buffer Acres Only) --
FOTG Practice 647]{.underline}

-   Vegetative Zones I & II (approx. west of Hwy 83) every 5-7 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Vegetative Zones III & IV (approx. east of Hwy 83) every 3-5 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Chemical Herbaceous Vegetation Control includes using burn-down
    chemicals to eradicate undesired cover (e.g. smooth brome) or
    suppress existing cover (chemical mowing) to allow for increased
    plant diversity. (The chemical must be labeled for that use.)

-   Chemical burn-down may be substituted for tillage under certain
    circumstances (specifications must be obtained).

-   Interseeding of legumes may be appropriate for this option
    (specifications for interseeding must be obtained prior to seeding).

-   Prescribed Burning or other authorized removal of excessive residue
    may be needed prior to interseeding.

-   This option is not to be used as a substitute for noxious weed
    control or weed control during establishment.

  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------
  *Approved                     *Alfalfa*   *Red                *Sweet    *Other(s):*   *     *
  Legumes/Forbs                             clover*             clover*                 
  (circle):*                                                                            

  *Time Frame for                                     *     *                           
  Application and                                                                       
  Interseeding:*                                                                        

  *Fields/Acres:*   *     *                                                             
  ----------------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------------------

**\* Attach a map of area to be treated with chemical and associated
details (type of chemical, application rate, site preparation).**

Tillage Only or Chemical Herbaceous Vegetation Control Only (No
Interseeding)

[CRP Practice CP9, CP23/A, CP27 & CP30 (Wetland Acres Only) -- FOTG
Practice 647]{.underline}

Management must encourage beneficial wetland plants (e.g. smartweed,
etc.) or reduce aggressive wetland vegetation (e.g. cattail, etc.).

-   Vegetative Zones I & II (approx. west of Hwy 83) every 5-7 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Vegetative Zones III & IV (approx. east of Hwy 83) every 3-5 years
    following stand establishment.

-   Plant succession in wetlands may be accelerated and require more
    frequent management than listed.

-   Tillage will not be conducted within 50 feet of field boundaries
    along state and county improved roads and highways or within 50 feet
    of property ownership boundaries without the approval of the
    adjacent landowner.

-   Tillage and/or chemical treatments may not be appropriate for
    wetlands with perennial vegetation such as wet meadows.

  ----------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------------
  *Time Frame for             *     *
  Treatment:*                 

  *Fields/Acres:*   *     *   
  ----------------- --------- ------------------------------------------------------

**\* Attach a map of area to be treated and associated details (type of
equipment or chemical, application rate, site preparation).**

**I (We) concur in the management provisions outlined in Nebraska
Conservation Plannin**g Sheet 20B-CRP.

  --------------------- ----------------------------- ------- --------------
  COOPERATOR                                          Date:        
  (Producer):                                                 

  COOPERATOR                                          Date:        
  (Producer):                                                 

  NRCS Representative:                                Date:        

  FSA County Committee:                               Date:        

  NRD Representative:                                 Date:        
  --------------------- ----------------------------- ------- --------------