# Conservation Practice Benefit-Cost Templates

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Knowing the benefits and cost of conservation activities is essential to making good decisions and investments that are cost effective.

## About the Benefit-Cost Information

Basic benefit-cost information has been identified for all 175 NRCS Conservation Practices in the form of one-page documents. Each document has the same format and data categories, making it is easy to compare practices. Each document contains general talking points about the conservation practice. The conservation planner can easily review the document and discuss the benefits and costs of each conservation practice with the client. Each document contains qualitative information and does not contain units, numbers or dollar estimates. Quantitative data is added later when the planning site, resource concerns and goals and objectives of the client are identified.

The templates are used in the NRCS nine-step planning process as described in the National Planning Procedures Handbook and in Economics Technical Note: TN 200-ECN-1, Basic Economic Analysis Using T-Charts (August 2013).

Download the Economics Technical Note(67.79 KB)

The initial benefit-cost information came from the NRCS Conservation Practice Standard and the Conservation Practice Physical Effects Matrix. Additional quantitative data would come from the land user, conservation planner, technical specialist and local agricultural supply vendors and contractors. NRCS can not guarantee every benefit and cost in the template will occur on every project, but we can say there is a high likelihood they will occur. Ultimately the conservation planner will determine the actual benefits, costs, probability and magnitude of occurrence. The worksheets contain general talking points about conservation practices for the conservation planner to discuss with the land user and focus on the benefits and costs of each conservation practice. 

Download a detailed description of the Conservation Practice Benefit-Cost Templates(529.82 KB)

## Steps for Conducting an Economic or Financial Analysis

**Step 1.** Fill out the Conservation Practice Effects template.

Download a blank CPE template.(20.29 KB)

**Step 2.** Identify a specific site for analysis (farm, field or regional level), edit the template for local conditions, add or delete effects in the template relevant to the site, add units and quantities of farm inputs and outputs. 

**Step 3.**Place a dollar value on as many variables as possible, put all units in the same time frame (using amortization ($/Acres/Year) or net present value ($/Acre)) so benefits and costs can be compared. Data comes from the land user, conservation planner, technical specialist and local vendors.

**Step 4.**Combine several conservation practices into a conservation system, which is how most conservation practices are applied at the field level.

###   Benefit-Cost Worksheets

Conservation Practice Name (Code)

Access Control (472)(23.46 KB)

Access Road (560)(23.15 KB)

Agrichemical Handling Facility (309)(22.09 KB)

Alley Cropping (311)(23.71 KB)

Amending Soil Properties with Gypsum Products (333)(22.17 KB)

Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste (591)(22.54 KB)

Anaerobic Digester (366)(23 KB)

Animal Mortality Facility (316)(22.37 KB)

Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Erosion Control (450)(22.23 KB)

Aquaculture Ponds (397)(22.42 KB)

Aquatic Organism Passage (396)(22.3 KB)

Bedding (310)(22.63 KB)

Bivalve Aquaculture Gear and Biofouling Control (400)(22.51 KB)

Brush Management (314)(23.39 KB)

Building Envelope Improvement (672)(21.93 KB)

Channel Bed Stabilization (584)(22.71 KB)

Clearing & Snagging (326)(22.41 KB)

Combustion System Improvement (372)(21.84 KB)

Composting Facility (317)(22.52 KB)

Conservation Cover (327)(24.1 KB)

Conservation Crop Rotation (328)(23.83 KB)

Constructed Wetland (656)(23.22 KB)

Contour Buffer Strips (332)(23.5 KB)

Contour Farming (330)(22.92 KB)

Contour Orchard and Other Perennial Crops (331)(23.3 KB)

Controlled Traffic Farming (334)(22.24 KB)

Cover Crop (340)(22.47 KB)

Critical Area Planting (342)(23.22 KB)

Cross Wind Ridges (588)(22.99 KB)

Dam, Diversion (348)(23.92 KB)

Dam (402)(23.94 KB)

Deep Tillage (324)(22.74 KB)

Denitrifying Bioreactor (605)(22.23 KB)

Dike (356)(23.14 KB)

Diversion (362)(24.18 KB)

Drainage Water Management (554)(23.48 KB)

Dry Hydrant (432)(22.77 KB)

Dust Control from Animal Activity on Open Lot Surfaces (375)(22.92 KB)

Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (373)(22.8 KB)

Early Successional Habitat Development/Mgt. (647)(23.07 KB)

Emergency Animal Mortality Management (368)(22.91 KB)

Farmstead Energy Improvement (374)(22.58 KB)

Feed Management (592)(22.83 KB)

Fence (382)(48.5 KB)

Field Border (386)(23.78 KB)

Field Operations Emissions Reduction (376)(22.49 KB)

Filter Strip (393)(24.29 KB)

Firebreak (394)(23.69 KB)

Fish Raceway or Tank (398)(23.06 KB)

Fishpond Management (399)(23.02 KB)

Forage and Biomass Planting (512)(24.17 KB)

Forage Harvest Management (511)(23.46 KB)

Forest Stand Improvement (666)(24.66 KB)

Forest Trails and Landings (655)(23.33 KB)

Fuel Break (383)(23.96 KB)

Grade Stabilization Structure (410)(23.62 KB)

Grassed Waterway (412)(24.52 KB)

Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (548)(23.3 KB)

Groundwater Testing (355)(22.72 KB)

Heavy Use Area Protection (561)(23.88 KB)

Hedgerow Planting (422)(24 KB)

Herbaceous Weed Control (315)(23.92 KB)

Herbaceous Wind Barriers (603)(23.59 KB)

High Tunnel System (325)(23.17 KB)

Hillside Ditch (423)(23.99 KB)

Integrated Pest Management (595)(23.1 KB)

Irrigation Canal or Lateral (320)(23.8 KB)

Irrigation Ditch Lining (428)(23.71 KB)

Irrigation Field Ditch (388)(23.73 KB)

Irrigation Land Leveling (464)(24.19 KB)

Irrigation Pipeline (430)(23.92 KB)

Irrigation Reservoir (436)(28.66 KB)

Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)(24.37 KB)

Irrigation System, Surface & Subsurface (443)(24.72 KB)

Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery (447)(24.42 KB)

Irrigation Water Management (449)(24.11 KB)

Karst Sinkhole Treatment  (527)(23.36 KB)

Land Clearing (460)(24.69 KB)

Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land (543)(23.99 KB)

Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land (544)(24.2 KB)

Land Reclamation, Landslide Treatment (453)(23.7 KB)

Land Reclamation, Toxic Discharge Control (455)(23.81 KB)

Land Smoothing (466)(24.38 KB)

Lighting System Improvement (670)(22.42 KB)

Lined Waterway or Outlet (468)(23.88 KB)

Livestock Pipeline (516)(23.95 KB)

Livestock Shelter Structure (576)(23.3 KB)

Mine Shaft & Adit Closing (457)(23.51 KB)

Mole Drain (482)(24.49 KB)

Monitoring Well (353)(23.42 KB)

Mulching (484)(24.1 KB)

Multi-Story Cropping (379)(25.18 KB)

Nutrient Management (590)(23.15 KB)

Obstruction Removal (500)(23.93 KB)

On-Farm Secondary Containment Facility (319)(23.14 KB)

Open Channel (582)(24.41 KB)

Pond (378)(25.01 KB)

Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment (520)(23.81 KB)

Pond Sealing or Lining, Concrete (522)(23.73 KB)

Pond Sealing or Lining, Flexible Membrane (521A)(23.8 KB)

Precision Land Forming (462)(24.59 KB)

Prescribed Burning (338)(25.23 KB)

Prescribed Grazing (528)(25.52 KB)

Pumping Plant (533)(24.11 KB)

Range Planting (550)(24.97 KB)

Recreation Area Improvement (562)(24.56 KB)

Recreation Land Grading and Shaping (566)(24.32 KB)

Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (329)(25.47 KB)

Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)(24.9 KB)

Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats (643)(24.58 KB)

Riparian Forest Buffer (391)(25.19 KB)

Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)(24.96 KB)

Road/Trail/Landing Closure and Treatment (654)(24.6 KB)

Rock Barrier (555)(23.99 KB)

Roof Runoff Structure (558)(24.01 KB)

Roofs and Covers (367)(24.33 KB)

Row Arrangement (557)(23.99 KB)

Salinity and Sodic Soil Management (610)(24.35 KB)

Saturated Buffer (604)(24.93 KB)

Sediment Basin (350)(24.96 KB)

Shallow Water Development and Management (646)(24.69 KB)

Short Term Storage of Animal Waste and Byproducts (318)(24.04 KB)

Silvopasture Establishment (381)(25.66 KB)

Spoil Spreading (572)(24.47 KB)

Spring Development (574)(24.89 KB)

Sprinkler System (442)(25.57 KB)

Stormwater Runoff Control (570)(25.5 KB)

Stream Crossing (578)(24.13 KB)

Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (395)(24.33 KB)

Streambank and Shoreline Protection (580)(24.52 KB)

Stripcropping (585)(24.79 KB)

Structure for Water Control (587)(24.34 KB)

Structures for Wildlife (649)(23.73 KB)

Subsurface Drain (606)(25.52 KB)

Surface Drainage, Field Ditch (607)(25.59 KB)

Surface Drainage, Main or Lateral (608)(25.39 KB)

Surface Roughening (609)(23.9 KB)

Terrace (600)(24.64 KB)

Trails and Walkways (575)(24.77 KB)

Tree/Shrub Establishment (612)(25.24 KB)

Tree/Shrub Pruning (660)(24.55 KB)

Tree/Shrub Site Preparation (490)(24.8 KB)

Underground Outlet (620)(24.44 KB)

Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)(25.17 KB)

Vegetative Barrier (601)(24.74 KB)

Vegetated Treatment Area (635)(24.7 KB)

Vertical Drain (630)(24.41 KB)

Waste Facility Closure (360)(24.61 KB)

Waste Recycling (633)(24.6 KB)

Waste Separation Facility (no) (632)(24.68 KB)

Waste Storage Facility (313)(24.69 KB)

Waste Transfer (634)(24.62 KB)

Waste Treatment (629)(25.15 KB)

Waste Treatment Lagoon (359)(25.25 KB)

Water and Sediment Control Basin (638)(25.18 KB)

Water Harvesting Catchment (636)(24.55 KB)

Water Well (642)(24.71 KB)

Watering Facility (614)(25.44 KB)

Waterspreading (640)(25.4 KB)

Well Decommissioning (351)(24.02 KB)

Wetland Creation (658)(25.35 KB)

Wetland Enhancement (659)(25.38 KB)

Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (644)(25 KB)

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380)(25.78 KB)

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation (650)(26 KB)

Woody Residue Treatment (384)(25.63 KB)

##   Related Resources

Conservation Practice Physical Effects
The CPPE matrix, and associated planning tools, describe how NRCS’s conservation practices effect the Natural Resource and Human-Economic Environments. 

Conservation Effects for Decisionmakers
Conservation Effects for Decisionmakers helps NRCS planners evaluate the effects of various conservation options available to the land user.

NRCS Environmental Evaluation CPA-52 Worksheet, Tools and Training
Download the CPA-52 worksheet and explore on-demand training, tools, guidance and other documents.

Conservation Practice Standards
On this page find links to national conservation practice standards and supporting documents.

Conservation Practice Standards Information
Learn about the information provided in conservation practice standards and supporting documents, such as overviews, worksheets, and network effects diagrams.

Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources.