skip to Main Content
MENU

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP’s)

This is only a partial listing of conservation best management practices. For a complete list of practices or questions regarding our Conservation Programs, please call 336-593-2846, ext. 3, or come by the Stokes Soil and Water Conservation District office at 501 North Main St., Danbury (Old Courthouse – 2nd floor).

 

ANIMAL WALKWAYS/TRAILS
A travel facility for livestock and/or wildlife to provide movement through ecologically sensitive terrain. The trails should accomplish one or more of the following purposes: provide or improve access to forage, water and/or shelter; improve grazing efficiency and distribution, divert travel away from ecologically sensitive and/or erosive sites.

COMPOSTING FACILITY
A facility for the biological stabilization of waste organic material.

CONSERVATION CROP ROTATION
Growing crops in a recurring sequence on the same field.

CRITICAL AREA STABILIZATION
Establishing permanent vegetation on sites that have or are expected to have high erosion rates, and on sites that have physical, chemical or biological conditions that prevent the establishment of vegetation with normal practices.

DIVERSIONS
A channel constructed across the slope generally with a supporting ridge on the lower side.

EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT DEVELOPMENT
Management of early plant succession to benefit desired wildlife or natural communities by: increasing plant community diversity; provide wildlife or aquatic habitat for threatened and endangered species.

FENCING
Enclosing or dividing an area of land with a suitable permanent structure that acts as a barrier to livestock. (Does not include temporary fences.)

FIELD BORDERS
A strip of permanent vegetation established at the edge or around the perimeter of a field.

FIELD STRIPCROPPING
Growing row crops, forages, small grains, or fallow in a systematic arrangement of equal width strips across a field.

FILTER STRIPS
A strip or area of herbaceous vegetation situated between cropland, grazing land, or disturbed land (including forest land) and environmentally sensitive areas.

FORAGE HARVEST MANAGEMENT
The timely cutting and removal of forages as hay, silage (haylage, baleage) or greenchop.

GRASSED WATERWAYS
A natural or constructed channel that is shaped or graded to required dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.

HEAVY USE AREA PROTECTION
The stabilization of areas frequently and intensively used by animals by establishing vegetative cover, by surfacing with suitable materials and/or by installing needed structures.

INCINERATORS (OR ANIMAL MORALITY FREEZER
An incinerator used to dispose of dead poultry, swine, or other small animals.

LONG TERM NO-TILL
Planting all crops for at least 5 consecutive years in 80% or more residue from the existing crops and/or cover crops with no soil surface disturbance greater than 25% of the row spacing.

MANURE SPREADERS
A manure conveyance system used to transfer animal waste.

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
Managing the amount, source, placement, form and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments.

PASTURE & HAY PLANTING
Establishing and re-establishing or renovating native or introduced forage species.

PEST MANAGEMENT
Managing agricultural pest infestations to reduce adverse effects on plant growth, crop production, and environmental resources.

PRESCRIBED GRAZING
Managing the controlled harvest of vegetation with grazing animals.

RESTORATION & MANAGEMENT OF DECLINING HABITATS
Restoring and conserving rare or declining native vegetated communities and associated wildlife species.

ROOF RUNOFF MANAGEMENT
A facility for collecting and disposing of runoff water from roofs. To prevent roof runoff water from flowing across concentrated waste areas, barnyards, roads, and alleys and to reduce pollution and erosion, improve water quality, prevent flooding, improve drainage, and protect the environment.

SPRING DEVELOPMENT
Improving springs and seeps by excavating, cleaning, capping, or providing collection and storage facilities.

STREAM CROSSING
A stabilized area constructed across a stream to provide a travel way for livestock.

UPLAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Creating, restoring, maintaining, or enhancing areas for food, cover, and water for upland wildlife and species which use upland habitat for a portion of their life cycle.

WASTE STORAGE STRUCTURES
A waste impoundment made by constructing a structure to temporarily store wastes such as manure.

WATERING FACILITIES
A device (tank, trough, or other watertight container) for providing animal access to water.

WELL
A hole drilled to an aquifer to provide water for livestock.

Back To Top