For Agriculture
You Can Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution
When rain or stormwater flows across farm and ranch lands, rooftops, lawns, streets, parking lots, construction sites and open lots it collects all kinds of pollution from “nonpoint sources” and washes them into our rivers and streams. Typical pollutants from stormwater pollution include sediment (dirt), oil and grease, fecal coliform, pesticides and fertilizer, lawn clippings, debris, and heavy metals.
Contrary to what you might think, stormwater runoff does NOT flow into the sewer and to the wastewater treatment plant for treatment (clean up). Polluted stormwater flows directly into our fresh water rivers, streams and lakes. It also can impact groundwater sources. Cleaning up contaminated water can be costly or not possible. Preventing pollution by applying “Best Management Practices” (or BMPs) is easier and more economical.
- General BMPs applicable to most agricultural operations, including:
- Funding sources for implementing agricultural BMPs
Stormwater Control
Stormwater pollution is a source water concern due to the increased volume and rate of runoff from impervious surfaces, and the concentration of pollutants in the runoff. In agricultural settings, infiltration, filtration, and retention/detention practices can help protect source waters.
Infiltration Best Management Practices seek to decrease the quantity of stormwater runoff by allowing the water to percolate through the ground and to increase the quality of the runoff by filtering the water. For example, grassy swales (shallow, vegetated channels) convey stormwater runoff to remove pollutants by sedimentation and infiltration.
Filtration BMPs primarily seek to increase the quality of runoff by filtering the water.
- Bioretention is the practice of removing stormwater pollutants through a variety of physical, biological, and chemical treatment processes involved in soil and plant-based filtration. The process usually consists of a grass buffer strip, sand bed, ponding area, organic or mulch layer, planting soil, and plants.
- Vegetated/Grassed Buffer/Filter Strips are densely vegetated areas of land that treat sheet flow before flowing into a surface water body. They decrease the velocity of the runoff, hold soils in place, allow some infiltration, and filter by vegetation. Further information can be found at these sites:
- Media Filters usually consist of a settling chamber and a sand (or other media) filtration chamber designed to treat stormwater runoff. Further information can be found at these sites:
Retention/detention ponds retain water, which decreases the quantity and increases the quality of runoff.
- Stormwater/Wet Basins/Ponds are permanent pools of water that have capacity to accommodate stormwater runoff. Generally they also include an area of vegetation around the pond to provide removal of dissolved solids. They can be distinguished from wetlands because they are generally deeper and have less vegetative cover.
- Constructed Wetlands are permanent pools of water designed to treat runoff. They can be distinguished from wet ponds because they are generally shallower and have more vegetative cover.
- Retention/Irrigation Systems capture stormwater runoff in a pond/basin, which then distributes the water in an irrigation system. This distribution of runoff over a large area reduces the infiltration requirements of the soil.
- Extended Detention Basins/Dry Ponds are designed to detain stormwater runoff for a given period of time, which allows sedimentation of particulates to take place in the basin. Further information can be found at these sites:
Further information on stormwater controls is available from the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) and U.S. EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
CASQA:
Vegetated Swale 
Bioretention
Vegetated Buffer Strip
Media Filter
Wet Ponds
Retention/Irrigation
Extended Detention Basin
NPDES:
Grassed Swales
NPDES Bioretention
Wet Ponds
Dry Detention Ponds
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management is a safe, alternative means of managing insects, weeds, and other types of pests. Pests are identified, action thresholds are considered, all possible control options are evaluated, and selected controls are implemented. Control options used to prevent or remedy unacceptable pest activity or damage include these options:
- Biological – introduce beneficial predators into landscapes
- Cultural – plant native, pest-resistant plant varieties
- Mechanical – hand-pick insects, or use traps, barriers, or water blasts to infected areas
- Chemical – use botanical, mineral, and insecticidal soap or synthetic chemicals
Further information can be found at these sites:
Back to the TopCombined Animal Feeding Operations
Animals confined to feeding lots produce large quantities of manure, which can be a source of water pollution (in the form of phosphorous) if it is not properly managed and stored. Best Management Practices to reduce pollution of the waterways include:
Stormwater BMPs
- Construct sediment basins to trap and manage solid manure
- Gage runoff holding ponds to help avoid capacity issues
- Build erms around manure storage to prevent runoff
- Use grass filter strips to protect surface water
- Use bermed feedlots and livestock yards to contain runoff
- Locate feedlots on sloped lands to provide good drainage
- Use concrete ditches or well maintained grassed waterways to control effluent and carry it to a holding pool
- Design storage tanks with sufficient freeboard
- Cover livestock holding areas to minimize the mixing of stormwater with manure
- Cover compost and manure storage areas to minimize runoff
- Utilize gutters to separate clean and dirty water and prevent water from accumulating
Land Application and Nutrient Management
- Implement and follow a nutrient management plan
- Use a calibrated spreader to apply manure evenly
- Center pivots with low pressure nozzles to evenly apply liquids from holding pool to avoid runoff
Managing the Land
- Fence surface waters so cattle do not have direct access
- Rotate pastures to provide adequate cover and prevent runoff
- Use self watering systems to prevent direct access to surface waters
- Centrally locate water tanks to allow cattle rotation on different pastures
- Clean solids from ditches to allow effluent to flow freely to retention ponds
- Develop an emergency management system
- Test soil to help determine nutrient levels and plan for land application of manure
- Utilize wind-row composting to allow for recycling of manure and aid in planning for nutrient management
- Secure facilities to prevent accidents and vandalism
- Berm, secure, and cover silage to prevent runoff
For further information refer to these sites:
Beef Cattle:
EPA Information on Beef Cattle and Environmental Stewardship
Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES) curriculum: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Fact Sheet Series
Dairies:
EPA Information on Dairies and Environmental Stewardship
Technical Pollution Prevention Guide for Dairy Processing Operations
Poultry:
EPA Information on Poultry Production and Environmental Stewardship
Swine:
EPA Information on Swine Production and Environmental Stewardship
Funding Sources for Implementing Agricultural BMPs
Farm Service Agency |
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Conservation Reserve |
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Reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality, create better wildlife habitat |
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Direct payment for specified use |
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Land owners receive annual payments for planting vegetative cover on highly erodible land |
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Individuals, partnerships, associations, tribal corporations, estates, trusts, other business enterprises, states |
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Requirements |
None |
202-720-6221; website: www.fsa.usda.gov |
Natural Resources Conservation Service |
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Conservation Security |
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Promote conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant, and animal life on tribal and private working lands |
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Direct payment for specified use |
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Land owners receive annual payments for implementing contractually defined stewardship practices |
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Individual producers, partnerships, associations, corporations, estates, trusts, other business or legal entities controlling eligible lands |
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Requirements |
None |
202-690-0848; website: www.nrcs.usda.gov |
Natural Resources Conservation Service |
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program |
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Assist eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner |
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Direct payment for specified use |
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Implementation of structural and land management practices |
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Agricultural producers facing serious threats to specified resources or needing assistance in complying with governmental environmental standards |
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Requirements |
25 percent; 10 percent for beginning farmers |
202-720-1845; website: www.nrcs.usda.gov |
Natural Resources Conservation Service |
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Wetlands Reserve Program |
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Restore and protect farmed wetlands, prior converted wetlands, wetlands farmed under natural conditions, and certain riparian areas |
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Direct payments for specified use |
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Landowners placing wetlands under a 30-year or permanent easement or restoration agreement |
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Individual landowners, partnerships, associations, corporations, estates, trusts, businesses, or states |
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Requirements |
None |
202-7690-0848; website: www.nrcs.usda.gov |
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