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Many Best Management Practices can be done by yourself on your farm.
What are the benefits of improving water quality on small farms?
Stream Fencing
- Prohibits livestock access to streams, ditches, and
ponds.
- Maintains stream bank vegetation which prevents erosion and sedimentation.
- Allows animal waste to filter before entering the waterway.
- Reduces injury to livestock.
- Enhances fisheries and other wildlife uses.
- Enhances recreational uses of the stream.
- Increases beauty and natural character of the water course.
Gutters, Downspouts, and Drains
- Directs roof runoff away from livestock use areas.
- Prevents contamination of water by barnyard waste.
- Reduces ponding of water and muddiness around barnyard.
- Reduces water-borne diseases.
Pasture Management / Pasture Rotation
- Management of livestock grazing to meet pasture carrying
capacity.
- Increases pasture productivity and forage value.
- Favors plant species of good forage value while reducing or preventing
spread of weed species.
- Reduces compaction of soil and favors percolation of water through the
soil profile.
- Prevents soil erosion, sedimentation, and water pollution.
Sacrifice Area / Confinement Area
- Established area to contain livestock during winter
months.
- Allows pastures to regenerate during winter months.
- Keeps livestock off of wet soils.
- Compliments benefits of proper pasture management.
Manure Pile Covers
- Keeps rain off of manure piles
- Reduces contamination of nearby water courses.
- Prevents leaching of precious nutrients.
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