Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent naturally occurring or planted vegetation that are designed to intercept pollutants and manage other environmental concerns. The vegetation filters out sediments, nutrients, pesticides, and other pollutants before they reach the water body. Conservation buffers can include filter strips, riparian buffers, grass waterways, contour buffer strips, and field borders.

Typically grass, a field border is a strip of vegetative cover established around a field perimeter that reduces the sediment load in water leaving the field. Borders can slow field runoff, capture soil, prevent rill and gully erosion, and prevent soil from entering streams. Use field borders to comply with required field setback distances applicable to manure and chemical applications.