The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is offering funding through the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program to help landowners improve water quality and protect natural resources by establishing buffer strips on eligible acres.
Buffer strips are strategically placed areas of vegetation between cropland and nearby water sources such as streams, ponds, and wetlands. These buffers play a critical role in filtering runoff from rainfall events, capturing sediment, nutrients, and chemicals before they reach surface waters.
Landowners can enroll in two types of buffer practices.
- Filter Strips — Narrow grass strips planted along water bodies, with eligible widths ranging from 20 to 120 feet.
- Riparian Forest Buffers — Wider buffers of grasses, trees, and shrubs next to water bodies, with eligible widths from 55 to 180 feet.
The buffer program offers competitive rental rates, with payments up to $250 per acre. Compared to some federal conservation programs, the NDA Buffer Strip Program allows greater flexibility for haying and grazing, making it especially attractive for livestock producers.
Additionally, buffer strip enrollments can be combined with USDA conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), to maximize both environmental and financial benefits.
Establishing buffer strips provides multiple long-term advantages, including improved water quality, reduced soil erosion, enhanced wildlife habitat, and better overall soil health
Landowners with cropland adjacent to waterways are encouraged to evaluate whether buffer strips could benefit their operation and the surrounding environment.
For more information about eligibility and enrollment, visit the Nebraska Department of Agriculture website:
https://nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/buffer_strip or contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office for assistance.