Benefits

When properly planned, vegetative environmental buffers can:

Flowers in Ditch

  • Provide a windbreak for the family and livestock
  • Provide shade
  • Reduce objectionable odors
  • Improve water quality
  • Improve soil quality
  • Provide variety of color and texture
  • Help conserve on-farm energy use
  • Create pleasing odor
  • Provide wildlife habitat
  • Improve farm aesthetics
  • Create a pleasant working environment
  • Improved neighbor and community relations

There are other benefits, too. By participating in the GFP program, farmers visually demonstrate to their neighbors and community their commitment to doing things right. For this reason, the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers will also provide participating farm families with a two-sided, three-foot-by-four-foot personalized Green Farmstead Partner sign for placement at the farm.