Agricultural BMPs

This handbook outlines which basic practices are effective in reducing erosion and sedimentation and provides guidance on how to implement these practices on farms.

Report demonstrates that, in addition to all the ancillary benefits of cover crops–reduced erosion, increased nutrient retention, lower input costs–healthy soils are better able to withstand the impacts of extreme weather events.

Fact sheet describing types and benefits of cover crops on farms.

Handbook detailing practices to control erosion and sediment on farms, such as cover cropping, conservation tillage, diversion, and mulching.

Report on Pennsylvania's first statewide comprehensive streamside planting opportunity spatial dataset, published by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, which is designed to help planners and conservationists find ideal streamside forest planting sites. The report describes this analysis in detail.

Describes in detail specific practices to conserve water on farms, preventing runoff and water pollution.

Handbook contains: Information on establishing riparian buffers in a range of urban settings; a step-by-step guide on how to plan, conduct, and evaluate a volunteer riparian planting; a set of handouts that can be used when preparing volunteers and community partners for the coordination and implementation of riparian plantings; a regionalized riparian buffer plant list.

This report examines the potential of a set of farming practices known for their ability to build rich, porous, sponge-like soils. The analysis shows that these well-known practices could make a substantial difference if adopted widely across the Midwest. But taking on new practices is not easy for many farmers, and federal farm policies provide little support to ease the transition. The report identifies key federal policies and programs that could be implemented or changed to bring about more resilient farming systems.

Prepared for the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association by Kreitler Research and Consulting, 12/20/2016