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Department of Conservation and Recreation
This article was originally featured in the Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) Summer 2025 Quarterly newsletter (PDF) published by the Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University.
For the fourth year in a row, record-breaking cost-share assistance is available for farmers through the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program (VACS).
Farmers in Virginia can contact their local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) to receive up to $300,000 a year for implementing over 60 best management practices (BMPs) on their operation. Here’s a closer look at how a few BMPs can benefit both the environment and your bottom line:
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Nutrient management planning helps farmers apply the right amount of fertilizer at the right time, reducing excess runoff into waterways and protecting water quality. It lowers fertilizer costs and boosts yields by ensuring crops get the nutrients they need without waste. Here’s another plus: a fully implemented nutrient management plan is a requirement for more than 30 VACS and tax-credit practices. Besides saving money on inputs, the plan is a gateway to more cost-share funding, making it a perfect first practice for farmers new to BMPs.
Cover crops protect soil from erosion, improve soil health by enhancing organic matter, and reduce nonpoint source pollution by slowing runoff and taking up excess nitrogen that would otherwise leach into the water table. Cover cropping can benefit your farm’s bottom line by increasing long-term crop yields, reducing the need for fertilizers, while reducing input costs by improving soil fertility naturally. This year, the cost-share reimbursement rate is $40/acre for traditional small grain cover crop, and farmers can receive additional payments for early planting, rye cultivars and late kill down.
Excluding livestock from streams reduces streambank erosion and decreases the amount of sediment that local waterways carry. It also eliminates the bacteria associated with livestock waste that cause illness in both animals and humans while cleaner water leads to increased weight gain in cattle. This year, the cost-share reimbursement rate is up to 100% of the cost of eligible components based on the width of the buffer and practice lifespan.
If you’re a farmer with 20-49 head of cattle, you qualify for the Small Herd Initiative, which provides funding for farmers to keep livestock out of streams without competing for funding against larger operations. The initiative pays for up to 100% cost-share for stream protection practices with a cap of $50,000 per operation.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) administers the cost-share program in partnership with Virginia’s 47 SWCDs. Virginia’s SWCDs work directly with farmers to distribute cost-share funding from the VACS program and provide technical assistance for its implementation.
Farmers interested in applying for funding should contact their local SWCDs. A map of local conservation districts and contact information can be found here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds. 
The Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP), a part of Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University, educates and empowers small, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers to own, operate and sustain farms and ranches independently with agricultural training programs that improve farm management skills and quality of life. Reach out to the Virginia Small Farm Outreach Program directly at (804) 524-3292 or smallfarm@vsu.edu.
Categories
Soil and Water Conservation
