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The Nebraska Buffer Strip Program (BSP) was created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1998. The program is intended to encourage landowners to establish buffer strips along vulnerable surface water resources. Buffer strips are an effective means of reducing levels of sediments and other pollutants in surface water. Funding for the program is derived from a fee assessed on all pesticides registered for use in Nebraska. |
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Introduction: Land eligible for enrollment in this program is cropland adjacent to perennial streams,
seasonal streams, wetlands, permanent bodies of water or existing buffer strips established after January 1, 1996. |
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Eligible Areas: Land eligible for enrollment in this program is cropland adjacent to perennial streams, intermittent streams or permanent bodies of water or existing buffer strips established after January 1, 1996, along these areas. |
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On dryland cropland
Payment
Rates:
On dryland cropland that is not enrolled in the CRP,
CREP, or other governmentally-funded programs, the payment rate per acre shall equal 120% of the CRP
weighted average soil rental plus $5, minus any payment from any other source. In no case, may the payment from all sources exceed $250 per acre.
On dryland cropland that is enrolled in CRP,
CREP, or other governmentally-funded programs, the payment rate per acre shall equal 20% of the
weighted average soil rental rate. In no case, may the payment from all sources exceed $250 per acre.
On irrigated cropland, whether enrolled in the CRP and/or any other program, the payment rate per acre shall equal
$250, minus payments received from all other sources.
For
irrigated cropland not enrolled in CRP, CREP, and/or any other
governmentally-funded program, the payment per acre shall be equal to $225,
minus any other program payments. |
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Process:
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Landowner works with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on tentative buffer strip locations. |
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Landowner submits the completed application to the local NRD. |
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NRD and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture consider the application. |
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If approved, the landowner
enters into a formal agreement with the local NRD and establishes and
maintains the
buffer strip according to NRCS FOTG practice requirements. |
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Deadlines:
Funding availability for new applications is reviewed annually near the
start of each calendar year, however, applications may be submitted any
time. Depending on funding availability and program demand,
applications may be held, reviewed, and approved on a a periodic basis. |
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General Terms:
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The contract length can be no less than 5 nor more than 10 years.
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Eligible
buffer strips are filter strips (NRCS FOTG practice 393) and riparian forest
buffers (NRCS FOTG practice 391).
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The
established vegetation must meet NRCS FOTG practice requirement.
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Limited haying and grazing is allowed provided it conforms to NRCS requirements.
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Minimum width is 20 feet for filter strips and 55 feet for riparian forest buffers (35 feet
must be trees and 20 feet bust be grass) unless NRCS requirements are greater. The minimum width would equal the NRCS requirements.
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Maximum width is 120 feet
for filter strips and 180 feet for riparian forest buffers, unless the NRCS
requirements are greater. For streams, the maximums apply to each side
of the stream.
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Minimum size per application is one acre.
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Fields
adjacent and parallel to the area to be buffered must be cropped ( in annual
crops or legumes as part of a rotation) for the duration of the contract.
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Failure to maintain the buffer strip according to contracted requirements may result in forfeiture of future and past payments.
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Early
cancellation of all, or portion of, a contract may warrant penalties of not
more than the total of all payments received, plus 25% on one year's
payment.
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| Buffer strips will be subject to compliance checks by NRD and/or Nebraska Department of Agriculture staff.
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Little Blue NRD Forms
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