Agricultural Best Management Practices

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Agricultural Best Management Practices
For Protecting Water Quality
Recommended by Georgia Soil and Water
Conservation Commission and approved by the EPD.
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Conservation Tillage Systems
Growing crops with minimum disturbance of the soil
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Contour Farming Terracing
Prevent water from running downhill by plowing
with the lands natural contour
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Stripcropping
Alternating crops in strips with sod
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Filter Strips
Sod or plants placed in areas where water runs
when it rains
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Grassed Waterways
A grassed channel in a field where water can be
channeled
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Cover Crops Crop Rotation

• Crops planted on bare soil to reduce erosion
• Growing crops in different places on a rotating
  schedule

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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Nutrient Management
Soil testing and fertilizer application to
prevent applying too many nutrients
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Integrated Pest Management
A total approach to managing crop pests to reduce
the use of pesticides
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Irrigation Water Management
Controlling amount of water applied to prevent
excess drawdown of aquifers and surface water
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Pasture Management
Managing animals and pasture grass to reduce
surface water contamination
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Agricultural Waste Management
Temporarily store manure for later application to
agricultural land
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Stream Crossings
Constructing fenced crossings with gravel bases
to permit livestock to cross at designated places
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Stream Buffers
Strips planted or natural vegetation maintained
on sides of streams
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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Critical Heavy Traffic Area Management

• Plantings to stabilize highly erodable land
• Gravel placed in areas where livestock travel
  routinely

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Agricultural Best Management Practices
Composting
Cooking dead birds and poultry manure in
compost piles