Virginia Agriculture Cost-Share Program

Cooperative Effort

The Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program (VACS) is administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) to improve water quality in the state’s water.

Agricultural Best Management Practices

BMP‘s help reduce erosion and soil loss from the land

Filter sediments containing fertilizer and pesticides before it can reach nearby waterways.

Store and utilize animal waste.

ALL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.

Cost-Share Incentives

The John Marshall SWCD provides cost-share at 50% - 100% of the installation cost to encourage the use of BMPs.

The SL-6 or Stream Exclusion with Grazing Land Management Practice is currently at 100% C-S.

This is a limited time offer from the State through June 30TH 2015

There are also over 30 other water quality improvement practices such as Tree Planting, Cover Crops, Cropland Conversion, etc., that can receive cost share.

BMP Practices

State Code Description of practice BMPs

FR-1 Reforestation of Erodible Crop and Pastureland*

FR-3 Woodland Buffer Filter Area*

FR-4 Woodland Erosion Stabilization*

NM-1 Nutrient Management Plan Writing and Revisions

NM-3 Sidedress Application of Nitrogen on Corn

NM-3B Manure Application to Corn Using Pre-sidedress Nitrate Test to

Determine Need for Sidedress Nitrogen

NM-4 Late Winter Split Application of Nitrogen on Small Grain

SE-1 Vegetative Stabilization of Marsh Fringe Areas*

SE-2 Shoreline stabilization

SL-1 Permanent Vegetative Cover on Cropland*

SL-3 Stripcropping Systems*

SL-3B Buffer stripcropping*

SL-4 Terrace System*

SL-5 Diversion*

SL-6 Grazing Land Protection*

SL-6A Small Acreage Grazing System

SL-6B Alternative Water System

SL-8 Protective Cover for Specialty Crops*

SL-8B Small Grain Cover Crop for Nutrient Management*

SL-8H Harvestable Cover Crop

SL-11 Permanent Vegetative Cover Crop on Critical Areas*

SL-11B Farm Road or Heavy Traffic Animal Travel Lane Stabilization

SL-15A Continuous No-till System

SL-15B Continuous No-till Forage Production System

WP-1 Sediment Retention, Erosion or Water Control Structure*

WP-2 Streambank Protection*

WP-2A Streambank Stabilization*

WP-2B Stream Crossings & Hardened Accesses

WP-2C Stream Channel Stabilization

WP-2D Maintenance of Stream Exclusion Fencing

WP-3 Sod Waterway*

WP-4 Animal Waste Control Facility*

WP-4B Loafing Lot Management System*

WP-4C Composter Facility*

WP-4D Soil Test in Support of Nutrient Management Plan

WP-4E Animal Waste Structure Pumping Equipment

WP-4F Animal Mortality Incinerator Facility*

WP-5 Stormwater Retention Pond

WP-6 Agricultural Chemical and Fertilizer Handling Facility*

WP-7 Surface Water Runoff Impoundment for Water Quality

WP-8 Relocation of Confined Feeding Operations from Environmentally

Sensitive Areas

WQ-1 Grass Filter Strips*

WQ-4 Legume Cover Crop*

WQ-5 Water Table Control Structure*

WQ-6 Constructed Wetlands

WQ-6B Wetland Restoration

WQ-7 Irrigation Water Recycling System

WQ-8 Fuel Storage Treatment

WQ-9 Capping/plugging Abandoned Wells

WQ-10 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

WQ-11 Agricultural Sinkhole Protection*

Fencing

Alternative Water Sources

Water Troughs

Alternative Water Source

Water Troughs

Stream Crossing

Cover Crops

Nutrient Management

Tree Planting

How does it work?

Meeting with Landowner

Develop Site Specific

Plan Map

Develop Site Specific Cost Share

Estimate/Budget

Board Approval

JMSWCD Board includes both appointed and elected officials.

Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Members hear conservation practice proposals and vote whether or not to approve them.

Survey

Design

Preconstruction Meeting

Progress Check

Inspection and Measurement

Participant Reimbursement

Benefits of using BMP’s

Reduce surface water pollution.

Improve/protect ecological function of streams

Improve/protect the fisheries of the Chesapeake Bay

Increase on farm soil productivity.

Increase pasture utilization - forage production

Improved livestock health - less disease - easier calving.

Better utilization of on farm nutrients - manure recycling

Create or improve wildlife habitat.

SWCD’s

DCR: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soilandwater/index.shtm

John Marshall SWCD - 540-347-3021 ext. 3

Culpeper SWCD: Culpeper, Orange Madison, Greene, Rappahannock - 540-825-8591

Prince William SWCD - 571-379-7514

Loudoun SWCD - 571-918-4530

Thomas Jefferson SWCD: Albemarle, Louisa, Fluvanna, Nelson - 435-975-0224

Tri-County/City: Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Fredricksburg - 540-433-2853

Other Sources of Cost Share and Landowner Assistance

Natural Resource Conservation Service has many practices for soil and water conservation, wildlife and forestry management.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries can give management advice for wildlife habitat improvement.

Contact Information

Tom Turner Conservation Manager John Marshall SWCD

98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 31 Warrenton, VA 20186

540-347-3120 ext. 3 tom.turner@fauquiercounty.gov