Now that harvest time has passed for most farmers, it's a great time to plan ahead for next year.
Cost share funds for certain conservation practices such as cross fencing, water tanks, and cover crops, etc. are available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)'s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Cross fencing and water tanks partnered with rotational grazing of livestock can help save pasture and reduce the amount of hay needed and reduce fertilizer costs.
During times of drought, as the one experienced this past year, pastures can become overused and water sources such as ponds dry up.
Rotational grazing and livestock water troughs or tanks that serve multiple fields can lessen the damaging effects of droughts.
Weed control is also a benefit of rotational grazing. By confining livestock to a certain area, the livestock will eat forages and/or forbs more efficiently and less forage gets too mature.
These conservation practices though are not quick fixes or quickly implemented. To be effective, a good prescribed grazing plan is necessary along with routine soil tests, pasture inventories/evaluations, and livestock health assessments. 
 If you have a field that lacks residue from crop harvest this year, you have noticed any erosion and/or gullies, the field has troublesome weeds or the field is lacking in vigor, then maybe a winter cover crop will do the trick.
A well-established winter cover crop will provide lots of biomass which turns into soil organic matter, adds nutrients for the following cash crop and can curtail troublesome pests. Predominately, the reason farmers don't plant a cover crop is due to a lack of planning and timing.
Unless strategically planned ahead of time, cash crops are harvested too late for a cover crop to be planted. Most cash crops have different varieties to choose from that allow early planting and/or early harvesting. An early crop harvest will allow many options for establishing cover crops.
The range of seeding dates for establishing cover crops is Aug.15 - Oct.15. There are many different cover crop varieties and mixes to choose from depending on what problem or concern exist in each field.
Use of cover crops increase soil organic matter, improves infiltration, reduces soil erosion from rain impact and runoff, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and herbicides, increases habitat for beneficial insects, and adds beauty to the countryside. Program guidelines prohibit harvesting cover crops for grain, and applicants must adhere to specific seeding dates and rates.
Cost share funds will be available in 2013 to help with costs of establishing rotational grazing systems and cover crops.
The funds will be available through EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). The purpose of the funding is to encourage farmers to use rotational grazing and cover crops as a part of a long term conservation plan for livestock operations and cropping systems.
Sign-up deadline to be considered for 2013 is Dec. 21; however, applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
If you would like to know more about these conservation practices or other practices or have resource concerns, please contact the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service located at 647 Bright Hill Road in Smithville or call 615-597-8226 ext. 3 or visit www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.