Virginia BMP Cost-Share Program

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Stream Crossing This program provides technical assistance and financial incentives to assist with the installation of approved conservation practices that improve and protect water quality. The state provides Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) with funding to target specific areas with existing water quality problems stemming from animal waste, cropland, and pastureland.

The cost-share program offers 75% cost-share for the use and/or installation of many BMPs with rates up to 100% for some practices. Other BMPs (i.e., cover crops) are paid at a straight per acre rate. Funding availability varies between SWCDs. Check with the SWCD on the amount of funding you may receive in a program year; however, additional funding may be available for certain practices (i.e., animal waste systems and livestock exclusion systems). In many cases, the practices often can be funded by a combination of state, federal and even private funds, reducing the landowner’s expense.

All practices in the program have been selected because of their ability to improve and protect water quality. Many also may increase farm productivity by reducing soil erosion, reducing nutrient losses, and improving livestock health.

Virginia Agricultural BMP Tax Credit Program

This program, which began in 1996, supports the voluntary installation of BMPs to improve water quality. Agricultural producers with an approved conservation plan can take a credit against state income tax of 25% for eligible BMP expenses. The tax credit amount cannot exceed $17,500 or the total state income tax obligation for the given year, but any excess expenses can be carried over for up to five years.

BMPs, if approved, will be inspected by the SWCD after installation. Soon after inspection, landowners will receive a tax credit approval or cost-share payments from the local SWCD.

Conservation Equipment Tax Credit Program

This program seeks to encourage farmers to use precision agricultural equipment for conservation. Sprayers for pesticides and liquid fertilizers; pneumatic fertilizer applicators; monitors, computer regulators, and height adjustable booms for sprayers and liquid fertilizer applicators; manure applicators; tramline adapters; and starter fertilizer banding attachments for planters qualify for a tax credit of 25% of the equipment purchase or $3,750.00, whichever is less, in the year of purchase. Conservation tillage equipment is eligible for a 25 percent tax credit, not to exceed $2,500.00. The equipment must meet state-established criteria, and the farmer must have a current nutrient management plan approved by the local SWCD.

State Code	Description of practice BMPs
CCI-CNT	Long-Term Continuous No-Till Planting Systems
CCI-FRB-1	Forested Riparian Buffer- Maintenance Practice
CCI-HRB-1	Herbaceous Riparian Buffer- Maintenance Practice
CCI-SE-1	Stream Exclusion - Maintenance Practice
CCI-SL-6N	Stream Exclusion with Narrow Width Buffer - Maintenance Practice
CCI-SL-6W	Stream Exclusion with Wide Width Buffer - Maintenance Practice
CCI-WP-2N	Stream Protection With Narrow Width Buffer- Maintenance Practice
CCI-WP-2W	Stream Protection With Wide Width Buffer- Maintenance Practice
FR-1	Reforestation of Erodible Crop and Pastureland*
FR-3	Woodland Buffer Filter Area*
FR-4	Woodland Erosion Stabilization*
LE-1T	Livestock Exclusion with Riparian Buffers for TMDL Implementation
LE-2T	Livestock Exclusion with Reduced Setback for TMDL Implementation
NM-1A	Nutrient Management Plan Writing and Revisions
NM-3C	Sidedress Application of Nitrogen on Corn
NM-4	Late Winter Split Application of Nitrogen on Small Grain
NM-5N	Precision Nutrient Management on Cropland- Nitrogen Application
NM-5P	Precision Nutrient Management on Cropland- Phosphorus Application
NM-6	Manure Injection
NM-7	Cover Crop for Managing Liquid or Semi-Solid Manure
RMP-1	Resource Management Plan Development
RMP-2	Resource Management Plan Implementation
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 Systems
SL-5	Diversions
SL-6N	Stream Exclusion with Narrow Width Buffer and Grazing Land Management*
SL-6W	Stream Exclusion with Wide Width Buffer and Grazing Land Management*
SL-7	Extension of Watering Systems
SL-8	Protective Cover for Specialty Crops*
SL-8A	Protective Cover for Agricultural Cropland*
SL-8B	Small Grain Cover Crop for Nutrient Management*
SL-8H	Harvestable Cover Crop
SL-10	Grazing Land Management
SL-11	Permanent Vegetative Cover Crop on Critical Areas*
SL-15A	Continuous No-till System
SL-15B	Continuous No-till Forage Production System
WP-1	Sediment Retention, Erosion, or Water Control Structures
WP-2A	Streambank Stabilization*
WP-2N	Streambank Protection with Narrow Width Buffer*
WP-2P	Portable Fencing for Stream Protection
WP-2W	Streambank Protection with Wide Width Buffer*
WP-3	Sod Waterway*
WP-4	Animal Waste Control Facility*
WP-4B	Loafing Lot Management System*
WP-4C	Composter Facility*
WP-4F	Animal Mortality Incinerator Facility*
WP-4FP	Feeding Pad
WP-4LC	Animal Waste Control Facility for Confined Livestock Operations
WP-4LL	Loafing Lot Management System with Manure Management
WP-4SF	Seasonal Feeding Facility with Attached Manure Storage
WQ-1	Grass Filter Strips*
WQ-4	Legume Cover Crop*
WQ-5	Water Table Control Structures
WQ-11	Agricultural Sinkhole Protection
WQ-12	Roof Runoff Management System

*indicates practice qualifies for both tax credit and agricultural BMP cost-share programs.

Livestock Exclusion and Rotational Grazing Video

For more information contact us at 540-422-8490, or visit us at 98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 33, Warrenton, Virginia 20186.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Word Viewer