Available Soil and Water Conservation Practices

The available practices are grouped according to resource concerns that you may have on your agricultural land. To find out more specific information on what practices are available in your county, contact your local soil and water conservation district.

Animal Waste Management
It is important to manage the nutrients in waste created by livestock production. Systems are available to protect surface and groundwater from pollutants and to recycle waste through correct soil application.
N312 Waste Management System

Grazing Management
Missouri ranks third in the nation for cow/calf production, which utilizes the many acres of pastureland in the state. Installing a grazing system will reduce feed costs, improve profitability, reduce or prevent erosion and protect water quality.
DSP-2 Permanent Vegetative Cover Enhancement
mDSP-2 Modified Permanent Vegetative Cover Enhancement
DSP-3.1 Grazing System Water Development
DSP-3.2 Grazing System Water Distribution
DSP-3.3 Grazing System Fence
DSP-3.4 Grazing System Lime
DSP-3.5 Grazing System Seed

Groundwater Protection
Groundwater is water beneath the Earth's surface that fills pores between materials such as sand, soil or gravel. Landowners can voluntarily install a composting facility, spring development or close an abandoned well, which can all have an impact on water quality.
BDSP-31 Buffer Sinkhole Improvement
DSP-31 Sinkhole Improvement
N316 Incinerator
N317 Composting Facility
N351 Well Decommissioning
N574 Spring Development
N725 Sinkhole Treatment

Gully Erosion
Gully erosion is severe erosion in which trenches are cut into the soil by running water. Water is channeled across unprotected land and the soil is washed away along drainage lines. By diverting the water flow and stabilizing the gully, this problem can be overcome.
DSL-5 Diversions
DSL-11 Permanent Vegetative Cover Critical Areas
DWC-1 Water Impoundment Reservoir
DWP-1 Sediment Retention, Erosion or Water Control Structure
DWP-3 Sod Waterways

Irrigation Management
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops. The correct application and timing of irrigation is critical to reduce nutrient, pesticide and sediment loss.
N430 Irrigation Water Conveyance
N442 Irrigation System, Sprinkler
N443 Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface
N447 Irrigation System, Tailwater Recovery
N554 Drainage Water Management
N587 Structure for Water Control

Nutrient Management
Nutrients already in the soil and those that are applied need to be managed appropriately to create less runoff and leeching through the soil after a rainfall. This protects water quality and can reduce the amount of fertilizer needed by a landowner.
N590 Nutrient Management
N633 Waste Utilization

Pest Management
Pest management involves reducing the amount of pesticides landowners apply to lessen the number of contaminants in ground and surface water. Pest management also works to improve the plant community on crops and grasslands which increases ground cover and reduces erosion.
N595 Pest Management

Sensitive Areas
Agricultural land along streams, springs or fields that has the potential to preserve water quality by filtering and absorbing pollutants is known as a sensitive area. Buffers, one example of a sensitive area, collect and filter out sediment and other nutrients that run off of agricultural fields.
N380 Windbreak Shelterbelt Establishment
N386 Field Border
N391 Riparian Forest Buffer
N393 Filter Strip
WQ10 Stream Protection

Sheet and Rill Erosion
Sheet erosion occurs when a very thin layer of soil erodes and often goes unnoticed. Rill erosion happens when a concentrated flow of water causes small channels to develop. Left untreated, the most productive part of the soil will be lost.
DSL-1 Permanent Vegetative Cover Establishment
DSL-2 Permanent Vegetative Cover Improvement
DSL-4 and DSL-44 Terrace Systems with or without Tile
DSL-15 No-Till Systems
N380 Windbreak Shelterbelt Establishment

Streambank Erosion
Landowners are losing land to streambank erosion every year. Streambanks need to be protected by providing adequate vegetation, stabilizing the bank. Water quality will also be improved.
C650 Streambank Stabilization

Woodland Erosion
Soil, waterways and timber production suffer when woodlands are grazed.The removal of soil or vegetation through animal feeding and trampling or improper tree harvesting allows soil to become susceptible to erosion.
C100 Timber Harvest Plans
DFR-4 Forest Plantation
DFR-5 Woodland Protection through Livestock Exclusion
N472 Use Exclusion
N655 Restoration of Skid Trails, Logging Roads, Stream Crossings and Log Landings (Forest Only)