Friday, January 09, 2009

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) would like to remind landowners and producers of the approaching November 15 deadline to apply for the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program. Applications are currently being accepted for filter strips and riparian forest buffers.

"These conservation practices filter agricultural pollutants such as sediment, fertilizers and pesticides," said Craig Romary, the environmental programs specialist at NDA. "The buffer strips are planted along rivers, seasonal and intermittent streams, ponds and wetlands."

Romary also stated that the rental rates for both non-irrigated and irrigated land have increased.

Applications are currently being accepted for new and existing buffer strips. Those interested in applying should contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Natural Resources District (NRD) office for more information. Additional information is also available on the NDA web site at http://www.agr.ne.gov/division/bpi/pes/buff.htm.