Agricultural Best Management Practices For Protecting Water Quality Recommended by Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and approved by the EPD.

Agricultural Best Management Practices Conservation Tillage Systems Growing crops with minimum disturbance of the soil

Agricultural Best Management Practices Contour Farming & Terracing Prevent water from running downhill by plowing with the land’s natural contour

Agricultural Best Management Practices Strip-cropping Alternating crops in strips with sod

Agricultural Best Management Practices Filter Strips Sod or plants placed in areas where water runs when it rains

Agricultural Best Management Practices Grassed Waterways A grassed channel in a field where water can be channeled

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

Agricultural Best Management Practices Nutrient Management Soil testing and fertilizer application to prevent applying too many nutrients

Agricultural Best Management Practices Integrated Pest Management A total approach to managing crop pests to reduce the use of pesticides

Agricultural Best Management Practices Irrigation Water Management Controlling amount of water applied to prevent excess drawdown of aquifers and surface water

Agricultural Best Management Practices Pasture Management Managing animals and pasture grass to reduce surface water contamination

Agricultural Best Management Practices Agricultural Waste Management Temporarily store manure for later application to agricultural land

Agricultural Best Management Practices Stream Crossings Constructing fenced crossings with gravel bases to permit livestock to cross at designated places

Agricultural Best Management Practices Stream Buffers Strips planted or natural vegetation maintained on sides of streams

Agricultural Best Management Practices Critical & Heavy Traffic Area Management Plantings to stabilize highly erodable land Gravel placed in areas where livestock travel routinely

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