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Little Blue Natural Resources District
        
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LBNRD Tree Program | Corners For Wildlife | NE Buffer Strip Program | Wild Nebraska |
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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, intermittent streams or permanent bodies of water or existing buffer strips established after January 1, 1996, along these areas. |
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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, the payment rate per acre shall equal 120% of the CRP soil rental plus $5 minus any payment from any other source. In no case, may the payment from all sources exceed $150 per acre.
On dryland cropland that is enrolled in CRP, the payment rate per acre shall equal 20% of the CRP soil rental rate. In no case, may the payment from all sources exceed $150 per acre.
On irrigated cropland, whether enrolled in the CRP and/or any other program, the payment rate per acre shall equal the CRP soil rental rate multiplied by an adjustment factor for the appropriate Nebraska Agricultural Statistics reporting district minus payments received from any other source. Rate adjustment factors for the districts are Northwest - 4.1, North - 3.0, Northeast - 1.7, Central - 2.5, East - 1.7, Southwest - 3.4, South - 2.8, and Southeast - 2.0. In no case, may the payment from all sources exceed $150 per acre. |
Process:
- Landowner works with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on tentative filter strip locations.
- Landowner submits the completed application to the local NRD.
- NRD and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture consider the application.
- If approved, the landowner enters into a formal agreement with the local
NRD and establishes the buffer strip according to NRCS 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. |
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General Terms:
The contract length can be no less than 5 nor more than 10 years.
Limited haying and grazing is allowed provided it conforms to NRCS requirements.
Grass, forb, tree, and shrub species must conform to NRCS requirements for filter strips or riparian forest buffers.
Minimum width is 20 feet for filter strips and 55 feet for riparian forest buffers (20 feet of riparian forest buffer must be grassed filter strip), unless NRCS requirements are greater. The minimum width would equal the NRCS requirements.
Maximum width is 100 feet, unless the NRCS requirements are greater. If the NRCS requirements are greater, the maximum width would equal the NRCS requirements.
Minimum size per application is one acre.
Failure to maintain the buffer strip according to contracted requirements may result in forfeiture of future and past payments.
Buffer strips will be subject to compliance checks by NRD and/or Nebraska Department of Agriculture staff.
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