Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program
Conservation Incentive Program Fact Sheet

• Program Name: Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program
• Abbreviation: BMP
• Primary Goal:
  • To encourage voluntary installation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and address Virginia's nonpoint source pollution water quality objectives.
  • To improve water quality in the State's streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Prevent additional nonpoint source pollution and meeting the criteria for Virginia's compliance with Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
• Contact Agency: Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)
• Where Applicable: Statewide.
• Other Sources of Information:
  • Fact Sheet, Virginia Agricultural BMP Program Brochure
  • Virginia Agricultural BMP Manual
  • Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

Prepared by Virginia State Technical Advisory Committee.

Program Description and Requirements

The cost-share program is funded with state and federal monies through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. SWCDs administer the program to encourage farmers and landowners to use BMPs to their land to better control sediment, nutrient loss and transportation of pollutants into our waters from excessive surface flow, erosion, leaching and inadequate animal waste management.

Program participants are to be recruited by the District based upon those factors which most influence their land use impact upon water quality. The objective is to solve water quality problems by fixing the worst problems first.

The individual cost-share limit for all BMPs: $50,000.

All programs, activities, and services of the conservation partnership are available to people on a nondiscriminatory basis regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, physical ability, political affiliation, and marital or familial status. We are all equal opportunity employers.

Last modified 2007-07-12