Soil Loss
Sheet, rill, concentrated-flow, or wind erosion
Conservation Planning
Start with the resource concern — then figure out what fits the farm.
Conservation planning starts with understanding the farm, identifying the soil, water, plant, animal, or other resource concerns that need attention, and evaluating practical ways to address them.
KES works with farmers to understand what is happening, what they want to accomplish, and which conservation alternatives make sense for the operation.
…but you still have to farm.™
Resource Concerns on the Farm
What needs attention?
Resource concerns are the conditions conservation planning is intended to address.
Compaction
Restricted rooting, infiltration, or plant growth
Water Quality
Sediment, nutrients, manure, or other potential losses
Plant Condition
Cover, vigor, productivity, or suitability
Livestock Impacts
Heavy-use areas, access, traffic, or sensitive areas
Water Management
Drainage, runoff, concentrated flow, or safe conveyance
The purpose of planning is to understand what is causing the concern before deciding how to treat it.
Evaluating Alternatives The selected practices should address the concern and make sense for the operation.
KES works with the farmer to identify these and other resource concerns, understand what is contributing to them, and consider practical alternatives. Together, we evaluate the advantages, limitations, and trade-offs of each. The selected practices should address the concern and make sense for the operation.
You don't need to know which conservation practice you need before the planning starts. Start with what is happening on the farm and what you are trying to accomplish. The practice comes later.
Whole-Farm Conservation Planning Conservation concerns rarely exist in isolation.
KES looks at how fields, pastures, production areas, water, infrastructure, livestock, and management interact across the operation. The goal is a conservation plan that addresses identified concerns while fitting the way the farm actually works.
Grazing Management Grazing management connects livestock needs, forage production, and the condition of the land.
Planning may consider forage availability, livestock needs, grazing and recovery periods, water, fencing, sensitive areas, and livestock movement to develop a grazing system that works for both the animals and the land.
Cropland Conservation Planning Cropland planning connects production decisions with the conservation needs of the field.
Planning may consider erosion, soil condition, water movement, crop and residue management, tillage, field access, and other practices that protect the resource base while fitting the cropping system.
Start a Conversation
Have a conservation concern or project in mind?
Tell John what you are seeing on the farm, what you are trying to accomplish, and whether an NRCS contract is already part of the project.
Email John
You don't need to know which practice or technical service you need. A little information about the farm and the concern is enough to get started.
John@KlutheEnvironmental.com
John@KlutheEnvironmental.com