Wet Weather Conservation Issues
Conservation Compliance
Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions aim to reduce soil loss on erosionprone lands and to protect wetlands for the multiple benefits they provide. These provisions apply to all land that is
considered highly erodible or a wetland, and that is owned or farmed by persons voluntarily participating in USDA
programs, unless USDA determines an exemption applies.
Producers and any affiliated individuals or entities who participate in most programs administered by the Farm Service
Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) are required to
comply with these provisions. Non-compliance may affect the following types of USDA program benefits:
 FSA loans and disaster assistance payments
 NRCS and FSA conservation program benefits
 Federal crop insurance premium subsidies
To comply with the HELC and WC provisions, producers must fill out and sign form AD-1026 certifying they will not:
 Plant or produce an agricultural commodity on highly erodible land without following an NRCS approved
conservation plan or system;
 Plant or produce an agricultural commodity on a converted wetland; or
 Convert a wetland which makes the production of an agricultural commodity possible.
Extreme 2015 weather conditions have resulted in excessive soil loss in some HEL row crop fields. However, much of the
impact occurred after compliance determinations were completed for 2015. Prior to 2016, USDA will evaluate the impact
of this year’s weather on conservation compliance in 2016. If weather conditions continue to present difficulties for
producers in meeting compliance requirements, weather-related variances will be considered.
Additional information and forms are available at the following link:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=stelprdb1257899
Questions regarding conservation compliance may be directed to Dwaine Gelnar, State Resource Conservationist, at
dwaine.gelnar@mo.usda.gov or by phone at 573-876-9392.
Cover Crops for Prevented Planting
Cover crops are grasses, small grains, broadleaves, and/or legumes grown primarily for seasonal protection and soil
improvement. As excessive rainfall runoff and flood waters cut across unprotected fields, the topsoil will be lost to erosion
and scouring. With the loss of productive topsoil, there is a substantial loss of nutrients, organic matter, and soil biology. If
tillage is applied to these water-damaged fields to control weeds or smooth them out, even relatively flat soils will erode
losing carbon, nitrogen and any applied chemicals. Above-ground plant biomass of cover crops helps protect the soil from
sun, wind and further water damage. Selecting high plant biomass cover crop mixes will help improve soils physically,
chemically, and biologically.
Cover crops, especially if no-tilled, can assist in accomplishing the following:
 Capture applied nutrients and cover crop legumes can fix nitrogen
 Build organic matter
 Control erosion
 Control weeds
 Improve soil health and protect soil organisms
Many cropland fields will go unplanted this year due to prolonged rain and flooding. Producers in this situation need to
weigh not only their program and insurance options (“prevented planting”) but should also assess agronomic options to
ensure long-term productivity from this difficult situation. Cover crops have the potential to build soil productivity for
subsequent crops and to protect soil from future extreme weather conditions.
Additional information for using cover crops on prevented planting acres is available at the following link:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/mo/technical/?cid=nrcs144p2_012565
Questions regarding cover crops may be directed to Jodie Reisner, State Conservation Agronomist, at
jodie.reisner@mo.usda.gov or by phone at 573-876-9401.