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CONSERVATION BUFFERS WORK . . .

ECONOMICALLY AND

ENVIRONMENTALLY

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	epartn-~er- of AgricsltuProgram Aid 1615 Revised Septembe~ 2000
Conservation buffers are a simple « ~y to help ) .,u stay profitable

and protect your most valuable asset - our land . ? tffers are also a

great way to demonstrate your commit meat to co, t ervation.

WHAT IS A BUFFER?

Conservation buffers are best described as st

of land in permanent vegetation that help coati

manage other environmental concerns . Filter st

buffers (predominantly trees and shrubs next to

field borders, grassed waterways, field windbreak

contour grass strips are all examples of conserva

Buffers can be especially helpful to you in m

a productive, profitable, and responsible farmin

operation. Today, America's farms and ranches,

produce crops and livestock . They play an irnpo

maintaining the environmental quality enjoyed

Conservation buffers can help you protect soil, : :

quality and improve fish and wildlife habitat . . .while you

demonstrate your commitment to land stewardship.

WHERE ARE BUFFERS

NEEDED?

You can use conservation buffers along streams and around

lakes or wetlands . They can also be installed within fields or at

field edges . Buffers are most effective when thev are combined

with other practices, such as conservation tillage, nutrient

management, and integrated pest management . Together, these

practices can provide you with an effective, profitable

conservation program.

WHY DO BUFFERS WORK

ECONOMICALLY?

Conservation buffers work economically because they are

generally less expensive to install than practices that require

extensive engineering and costly construction methods .

Buffers also tend to be more economical

to maintain than many other practice , .

And now there are new and higher

financial incentives under the

continuous Conservation Reicrvc

Program (CRP) sign-up that make use of certain

buffers more attractive economically than ever

before . Moreover, you can sign up any day at your

local U .S . Department ofAgricttlturc: (USDA) Service

Center (Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources

Conservation Service) . There is no waiting period with the

continuous CRP sign-up, and you need not compete against

others to see who gets in Your offer is automatically accepted if

payment of $100 to $150 per acre (depending on contract

length) for certain high-priority practices : filter strips, riparian

buffers, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, field windbreaks, and

living snow fences

A practice incentive payment equal to 40 percent of your

eligible practice installation cost. This is in addition to the

up-to-50-percent cost-share paid by USDA for establishing

approved buffers .

Increases in maintenance payments per acre for

certain activities like tree planting, fencing, and water

development. Maintenance payments up to $10 per acre

per year are now possible .

Updated CRP rental rates nationwide to better reflect

the agricultural value of grazing land along streams and around

lakes and other waterbodies.

Other incentives remain available for certain buffer

practices under the continuous CRP sign-tip . Some state and

local governments, as well as private organizations, also make

payments to farmers and ranchers who are willing to install

and maintain buffers

The U . S . Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its

programs and activities on the hasi, of nice, color, national origin, sex,

religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or

fmulial state, . (Not all prohibited bases apply to all program,.) Persons

with disabilities who require alternative means for conuaiunication of

pro nam information (Braille, large print, audiot.y~c ete .) Should

contact USDA', TARGET Center at 202-121-2(00 (voice and TDD)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whirten Building, 14th and Independence

Avenue, SW, Was1aiq:;ton, DC 21270-9411 or call ('_12) 120-3964 (,- nice

and TPD) . USDA is an eLiual eu1Ploynacnt opportuniti provider and employer.

you meet the

eligibility

requirements.

s or other areas

pollutants and Under the

s, riparian continuous CRP

tter courses), sign-up, the new

,helterbclts, and and higher

n buffers . incentives for

itaining conservation

c ranching buffers include

more than

tat role in An up-frc

- y all citizens . signing

ir, and water incentive