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Composting Facilities

On properties where animal manure will be used to fertilize pastures or cropland as part of a comprehensive nutrient management plan, composting facilities are often used to turn the raw manure into a valuable soil amendment. (more...)

Conservation Cover

Conservation cover is native Maryland or introduced non-invasive vegetation that has been established and maintained permanently to protect soil and water resources. (more...)

Cover Crops

Cover crops are generally grasses, legumes, forbs, or other herbaceous plants that are established on crop fields that would otherwise be barren for some part of the year. The most common period of time during which cover crops are used in this area is during the winter. (more...)

Critical Area Planting

Critical areas on the farm are those where soils are highly erodible or areas that are already experiencing critical erosion. These areas might include conservation structures, embankments, cuts, fills, and filter strips. (more...)

Crop Rotation

Growing crops in a recurring sequence in the same field can reduce soil erosion by wind and water movement, improve soil organic matter content, contribute to the management... (more...)

Diversions

Diversions are channels, constructed across a slope with a supporting ridge on the lower side, which redirect water flow on sloping areas of a farm. (more...)

Fences

Fences have many applications for conservation planning. Often they are used to restrict animals from entering environmentally sensitive areas. (more...)

Field Borders

Field borders are strips of perennial vegetation that are established at the edges of fields that are used as travel lanes or turn rows. The vegetation maintains a constant cover over these areas and protects it from erosion that might otherwise result from constant use. (more...)

Filter Strips

Filter strips are narrow bands of herbaceous vegetation that are planted between the lower edges of cropland, grazing land, or other disturbed areas and environmentally sensitive resources such as streams or wetlands. (more...)

Grade Stabilization Structures

This is a structure that is used to prevent head cutting and maintain grade along a drainage way. Grade stabilization structures control erosion, act as a grade control, reduce incised gulley formation and improve environmental quality. (more...)

Grassed Waterway

Grassed waterways are used to convey runoff through fields that are subject to gully erosion. This often occurs when a relatively high volume of water drains into and flows through a low point in the field. (more...)

Heavy Use Area Protection

Areas on the farm that are frequently or excessively used by livestock, people, or vehicles may lose their ground cover and become dusty or muddy. These areas are sometimes fortified by heavy use area protection. (more...)

Lined Waterway or Outlet

In areas where grassed waterways are not capable of conveying runoff without erosion occurring, lined waterways or outlet structures are used. (more...)

Nutrient Management

Nutrient management on agricultural lands addresses the amount, source, placement, form, and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments. (more...)

Pasture and Hay Planting

The objective of pasture and hay planting is to establish a healthy and productive stand of hay grasses and/or legumes to provide forage for grazing animals or hay for livestock. (more...)

Pest Management

The control of undesirable weeds, insects, diseases, animals and other organisms that cause damage or annoyance is the objective of practicing pest management. (more...)

Prescribed Grazing

Prescribed grazing is the practice of managing grazing livestock on pasture lands to maintain and/or improve the health and vigor of the plant communities and meet the basic needs of the livestock. (more...)

Residue Management

Residue management and the use of no-till or strip-till techniques are methods employed by farmers to reduce soil erosion resulting from wind and water movement, maintain and improve soil organic matter content... (more...)

Riparian Forest Buffer

A riparian forest buffer is a strip of vegetation including trees and shrubs that is located adjacent to and up-gradient of a water body such as a stream. (more...)

Roof Runoff

Roof runoff structures are constructed in order to improve water quality, reduce erosion, provide for better infiltration, and can also be used to collect and store water for later use. (more...)

Sediment Basin

A sediment basin is a depression or sump area used to collect and store debris and sediment so that it does not discharge into reservoirs, wetlands, diversions, waterways, and streams. (more...)

Sediment Ponds

By definition a pond is a structure made by constructing an embankment or by excavating a pit. (more...)

Spring Development

This practice utilizes natural springs and seeps to provide water for wildlife or livestock or for irrigation practices. (more...)

Stream Crossing

A stream crossing is a stabilized area or structure, such as a ford or bridge that is constructed across a stream to allow for passage of animals, people, and equipment. (more...)

Waste Storage Facility

An agricultural waste storage structure is made by building a walled structure or by excavating a pit. (more...)

Water & Sediment Control Basin

A Water and Sediment Control Basin (WASCOB) is an embankment or a combination of a ridge and channel that is constructed across a slope or small waterway to form a detention basin and sediment trap. (more...)

Watering Facility

Watering facilities such as troughs are intended to provide animals with access to water. Sometimes they are placed in such as way as to encourage distribution of livestock... (more...)