Virginia allocates record $207M for soil and water conservation
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation?Contributed

RICHMOND, Va. — A record $207 million has been allocated to the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program (VACS) for fiscal year 2025. This historic level of funding provides farmers and producers with unprecedented support to adopt conservation practices designed to protect water quality throughout the commonwealth.

The cost-share funding for FY 2025 is an $82.1 million increase over FY 2024’s previous record of $124.6 million.

The VACS program offers financial incentives for farmers to adopt best management practices aimed at reducing nutrient pollution, sediment and waste from entering waterways. These voluntary practices can provide a long-term boost to an operation’s bottom line through increased productivity and reduced labor and input costs.

Farmers can receive up to $300,000 in state cost-share reimbursement for more than 60 best management practices, including:

  • Cover crops
  • Nutrient Management Plans
  • Forested or herbaceous buffers
  • Livestock stream-exclusion systems

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.

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