September 22, 2006

Scouting for conservation practices

Grassed waterway in a field of corn. (USDA Photo by: Tim McCabe)

The combine cab offers an excellent vantage point to note where channels have developed in the field from the concentration of runoff water. These rills generally develop in the same places each year — they get filled in by spring tillage, re-develop during the growing season and get bounced over by the combine during harvest. Year after year the erosive cycle is repeated unless corrective measures are taken.

Consider installing grassed waterways in these areas. As the name indicates, a grassed waterway is a shaped or graded channel that is seeded to grass. This channel forms an area where water can flow down the slope in a controlled manner. Erosion is reduced because the velocity and energy of the flowing water is reduced by the grass stems, and the roots help hold the soil in place. Grassed waterways in a field can substantially lessen the possibility of equipment damage by eliminating gullies caused by runoff.

Conservation buffers, such as filter strips and riparian forest buffers, placed along the edges of streams or other water bodies serve as a last line of defense for sediment and other pollutants that might enter the water. They are effective at trapping sediment and enhance the infiltration of runoff water. Buffers improve safety by keeping equipment away from the edge of the stream. Buffers also provide excellent habitat for pheasants, songbirds and other wildlife. When planted to trees, a buffer may provide income for future generations.

Grassed field borders can provide a convenient location for unloading combines into trucks or grain carts, loading planters, or for turning around combines, planters, and other equipment. Controlling field traffic in this manner can greatly reduce the likelihood of developing a compaction problem within the field. Field borders often can be used to eliminate crop rows that would otherwise be planted up-and-down hill, further reducing soil erosion. They also can provide wildlife habitat.

Learn more about windbreaks Nebraska Extension has developed a series of publications on windbreaks: EC1763 How Windbreaks Work EC1764 Windbreak Establishment EC1766 Windbreaks for Livestock Operations EC1767 Windbreaks for Rural Lilving EC1768 Windbreak Management EC1770 Windbreaks for Snow Management EC1771 Windbreaks and Wildlife EC1772 Windbreaks in Sustainable Agricultural Systems EC1777 Windbreak Renovation EC1778 Field Windbreaks EC1779 Windbreaks for Fruit and Vegetable Crops

Windbreaks, shelterbelts, and living snowfences are similar practices, where rows of trees and shrubs are planted to protect an area from wind and/or blowing snow. Living snowfences often are established along roads or lanes to control drifting snow; windbreaks/shelterbelts are usually planted to protect farmsteads, feedlots and other structures. Windbreaks can be effective in reducing heating costs and improving livestock performance in the winter, and they provide excellent wildlife habitat.

All of the practices mentioned here require a commitment of land and the planting of permanent vegetation (grasses, shrubs, trees).

No-till planting is a proven conservation practice that often just requires a change in management and some equipment adjustments. The first step in implementing a no-till system is to make sure that the residue from the harvested crop is uniformly distributed behind the combine by using a straw spreader or chopper to avoid leaving windrows or piles of residue that can interfere with the planting operation the next spring. A chaff spreader also may be needed for more uniform residue distribution, particularly when harvesting soybeans or small grains with a header greater than 20 feet wide. In the spring, planter adjustments may include tightening the down-pressure springs, adding extra weight, and making sure that the furrow openers are sharp.

Out-of-service water wells, especially those that are old and/or in disrepair or that do not meet current well construction standards, threaten groundwater quality as well as human health and safety. Perhaps you drive around one of these wells in a field or there is one elsewhere on land that you own or farm. If so, resolve to have it decommissioned as soon as possible.

Conservation funding options

A number of government programs such as the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) are available to assist landowners with the installation and maintenance of conservation practices. Other programs can assist with the implementation of a no-till farming system. Contact your local NRCS Field Office for more information on these programs. Also, most Natural Resources Districts offer a cost-share program that typically pays 65-75% of the costs to decommission a well. Contact your local NRD for information and an application packet that gives program guidelines, forms, and instructions. Conservation is a good investment, and right now is an excellent time to begin or increase that investment.

David P. Shelton
Extension Agricultural Engineer
Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, Northeast REC

Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.

Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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