Best management practices (BMPs) are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing non-point source pollution to help achieve water quality goals. BMPS include both measures to prevent pollution and measures to mitigate pollution.

BMPS for agriculture focus on reducing non-point sources of pollution from croplands and farm animals. Agricultural runoff may contain nutrients, sediment, animal wastes, salts, and pesticides. With conservation tillage, crop residue, which is plant residue from past harvests, is left on the soil surface to reduce runoff and soil erosion, conserve soil moisture, and keep nutrients and pesticides on the field. Contour strip farming, where sloping land is farmed across the slopes to impede runoff and soil movement downhill, reduces erosion and sediment production. Managing and accounting for all nutrient inputs to a field ensures that there are sufficient nutrients available...