the approximate location of the standard prior to seedbed preparation for the baselines used to establish the next crop. system; Farming operations should begin on the the location of stable outlets for the contour baselines and proceed both up and system down the slope in a parallel pattern until patterns meet. Where field operations begin to Specifications shall be recorded using converge between two non-parallel contour approved implementation requirement baselines, establish a correction area that is document. permanently in sod or established to an annual close-grown crop. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Where contour row curvature becomes too Perform all tillage and planting operations sharp to keep machinery aligned with rows parallel to contour baselines or terraces, during field operations, establish sod turn diversions, or contour buffer strip boundaries strips on sharp ridge points or other odd areas where these practices are used, provided the as needed. applicable row grade criteria are met. Where terraces, diversions, or contour buffer strips are not present, maintain contour Foster, G.R. Revised Universal Soil Loss markers on grades that, when followed during Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) Science establishment of each crop, will maintain crop Documentation (In Draft). USDA-ARS, rows at designed grades. Contour markers Washington, DC. 2005. may be field boundaries, a crop row left untilled near or on an original contour baseline Renard, K.G., G.R. Foster, G.A. Weesies, D.K. or other readily identifiable, continuous, lasting McCool, and D.C. Yoder, coordinators. 1997. marker. All tillage and planting operations Predicting soil erosion by water: A guide to shall be parallel to the established marker. If a conservation planning with the Revised marker is lost, re-establish a contour baseline Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).U.S. within the applicable criteria set forth by this Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 703.
the approximate location of the baselines used to establish the system; the location of stable outlets for the system Specifications shall be recorded using approved implementation requirement document. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Perform all tillage and planting operations parallel to contour baselines or terraces, diversions, or contour buffer strip boundaries where these practices are used, provided the applicable row grade criteria are met. Where terraces, diversions, or contour buffer strips are not present, maintain contour markers on grades that, when followed during establishment of each crop, will maintain crop rows at designed grades. Contour markers may be field boundaries, a crop row left untilled near or on an original contour baseline or other readily identifiable, continuous, lasting marker. All tillage and planting operations shall be parallel to the established marker. If a marker is lost, re-establish a contour baseline within the applicable criteria set forth by this standard prior to seedbed preparation for the next crop. Farming operations should begin on the contour baselines and proceed both up and down the slope in a parallel pattern until patterns meet. Where field operations begin to converge between two non-parallel contour baselines, establish a correction area that is permanently in sod or established to an annual close-grown crop. Where contour row curvature becomes too sharp to keep machinery aligned with rows during field operations, establish sod turn strips on sharp ridge points or other odd areas as needed. Foster, G.R. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) Science Documentation (In Draft). USDA-ARS, Washington, DC. 2005. Renard, K.G., G.R. Foster, G.A. Weesies, D.K. McCool, and D.C. Yoder, coordinators. 1997. Predicting soil erosion by water: A guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 703.
Final_TN-330_ContourFarming_Standard_July2015.docx