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  • River Friendly Farm Certification Criteria

  • River Friendly Farm Certification evaluates agricultural practices based on five categories: Soil Health, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, Farmstead Management, and Waterway Protection.

    Within each category, there are criteria that, if applicable to the product growth/production, must be met for the farm to quality as River-Friendly Certified. 

    • For each criterion, applicants must select either:
      • “N/A” if the criteria are not relevant to the operation. Farms will not be evaluated based on those criteria. See below for more information. For examples, a farm that does not have livestock can mark N/A and skip all questions pertaining to livestock exclusions and manure handling.
      • “No,” if the agricultural practices do not meet the criteria, and
      • “Yes” if the agricultural practices do meet the criteria.

    To qualify for the River Friendly Farm Certification, applicants must meet every relevant criterion.

    In most cases, applicants will be prompted to select one or more techniques or practices they employ related to the criteria. These are designed to guide the subsequent narrative description. There is no minimum number needed to qualify for any given criteria.

    In the “Description” area, applicants must record a detailed description of the best management practices they employ to achieve the criteria. If the applicant is claiming an exemption, please describe why your farm qualifies for an exemption.

    Responses will be verified by an approved by an independent River Friendly Farm certifying agent during an on-site visit.

  • Basic Farm Information

  • CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • FARM AND EXPERIENCE INFORMATION

  • Operation Size

    Enter number of acres for each category of land on your farm
  • 3. Operations Type*
  • 4. Management*

  • Soil Health

    Protecting the soil and promoting soil health

  • CROPLAND EROSION CONTROL

    Sheet erosion is the uniform removal of soil in thin layers, and it occurs when soil particles are carried evenly over the soil surface by rainwater that does not infiltrate into the ground.
  • Little to no evidence of sheet erosion occurs in agricultural production:*

  • Please indicate which of the following erosion management and mitigation practices are used on your farm. Check all that apply.

  • Soils are covered:
  • Tillage is limited:
  • Other management strategies:

  • CROPLAND CONCENTRATED FLOW EROSION

    Concentrated flow erosion, caused by runoff from rainfall, snow-melt, or irrigation water, can cause gullies. Ephemeral gullies usually appear on cultivated fields during the planting or growing season, but are temporarily removed by cultivation. Classic gully erosion generally occurs in well-defined drainage ways and generally is not obliterated by tillage.
  • There are very few or no gullies present throughout the farm and areas subject to concentrated flow are protected:*
  • Please indicate how you manage areas of concentrated flow. Check all that apply.

  • PASTURE EROSION CONTROL

  • Pastures contain a healthy stand of grass, few bare areas, and minimal compaction:*
  • Please indicate which systems you use to ensure healthy pasture. Check all that apply.

  • SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

  • Farm practices increase soil organic matter:*
  • Please indicate what practices you use to protect and increase soil organic matter. Check all that apply.

  • AVOIDING COMPACTION

  • Farm practices limit or reverse soil compaction and promote healthy soil:*
  • Please indicate which practices you employ to limit or reverse soil compaction. Check all that apply.

  • Nutrient Management

  • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT: RIGHT RATE

  • Nutrients are applied at a rate that minimizes the potential for run-off and leaching:*
  • Please indicate which of the following techniques you use to ensure the rate of nutrient application corresponds with plant needs. Check all that apply.

  • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT: RIGHT PLACEMENT

  • Nutrients are applied through a method that minimizes the potential for run-off and leaching:*
  • Please indicate which of the following techniques you use to ensure even and proper nutrient placement. Check all that apply.

  • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT: RIGHT TIMING

  • Timing of nutrient application minimizes the potential for run-off and leaching:*
  • Please indicate which of the following techniques you use to ensure nutrients are available when crops need them. Check all that apply.

  • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

  • The farm is following a nutrient management plan:*
  • Please indicate which of the following nutrient management plans you have. Please check all that apply.

  • Pest Management

  • NON-PESTICIDE MEASURES

  • Farm implements non-pesticide measures to reduce pest damage and pesticide use:*

  • Please indicate which of the following non-pesticide measures are used on the farm. Check all that apply.

  • Encouraging natural processes in the environment:
  • Non-pesticide actions:

  • PESTICIDE MONITORING

  • Pesticide use is based on inspection, monitoring, or another science-based approach to determine need and optimum timing for treatment:*
  • Who conducts crop inspections to determine types and infestation levels of pests at each site?

  • PESTICIDE APPLICATION RECORD KEEPING, CALIBRATION, STORAGE AND MIXING, AND SELECTION

  • Rows
  • Please indicate which strategies you employ to reduce the ecological and environmental impact of pesticides. Check all that apply.

  • PESTICIDE USE REDUCTION

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are used to reduce pesticide use and potentially detrimental effects:*
  • Please indicate which techniques the farm uses to reduce pesticide use. Check all that apply.

  • FARMSTEAD MANAGEMENT

  • STORMWATER CONTROL

  • Stormwater is managed to prevent detrimental impact to water:*
  • Please indicate which of the following best management practices you employ to prevent stormwater from impacting water resources. Check all that apply.

  • ANIMAL CONCENTRATION AREAS (ACAS)

    ACAS specifically include barnyards, feedlots, loafing areas, exercise lots, or other similar animal confinement areas. Heavy use such as cattle access ways, feeding areas, watering areas, and shared areas are also considered animal concentration areas.
  • ACAS are managed to prevent run-off from impacting water resources:*
  • Please indicate which of the following solutions you use to prevent surface run-off from creating erosion concerns. Check all that apply.

  • MANURE MANAGEMENT

  • Manure and compost are stored in a means that minimizes the potential for run-off and leaching:*
  • Please indicate which of the following best management practices you employ related to your manure and compost storage. Check all that apply.

  • CONTAMINATED WATER DISCHARGE

  • Contaminated wastewater (ie. milk-house water, wash-water, and leachate) from farm operation is treated and does not enter waterways:*
  • Please indicate which of the following best management practices you employ to treat contaminated wastewater.

  • WATERWAY PROTECTION

  • BUFFERS ON PERMANENT WATERWAYS

  • Vegetation areas along waterways, known as buffers, are adequately sized to intercept stormwater run-off, filter pollutants, and support stream health:*
  • Which of the following management strategies do you use to protect your permanent waterways and waterbodies? Check all that apply.

  • STREAM ACCESS

  • Livestock and vehicles have restricted access to waterways and waterbodies:*
  • Please indicate which of the following practices you employ to preserve your riparian buffer. Check all that apply.

  • SEASONAL AND EPHEMERAL WATERWAYS

  • Measures are taken to protect seasonal waterways:*
  • Please indicate which of the following techniques you employ to protect seasonal and ephemeral water-bodies. Please check all that apply.

  • IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT

  • Measures are taken to minimize water use and maximize water use efficiency:
  • Please indicate all conservation measures being used. Check all that apply.
  • Should be Empty:
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