Best Management Practices

Illinois' Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) characterizes best management practices (BMPs) for agriculture into three categories: In field, Edge-of-field, and Land Use Changes. 

The NLRS included BMPs that have been proven to reduce nutrient losses in peer-reviewed, published research. Those practices are noted here with an *. This website also includes information about additional BMPs that can be used by farmers here in Illinois, many of which are being tested in ongoing research. 

You can find information about Illinois' Demonstration Farms, where many of these practices are being researched and showcased, here.  

In field:

• Nitrogen management *
• Cover crops *
• Reduced tillage *

Edge-of-field:

• Buffers *
• Saturated buffers
• Woodchip Bioreactors *
• Wetlands *
• Drainage Water Management
• Streambank Stabilization

Land Use Changes:

• Perennial/energy crops *