Best Managment Practices (BMPs) for Agriculture
We offer financial and technical assistance as well as state tax credit for a variety of best management practices through the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share (VACS) Program.
This program can help you balance your desire to be a good steward of the land with your need to remain profitable. The program offers more than 50 conservation practices that cover the full spectrum of agricultural operations.
The Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) frequently partner to assist producers with their conservation efforts.
Popular Project Types
- Stream Fencing and Alternative Watering Systems
- Riparian Buffer Tree Planting on Crop/Pastureland
- Animal Waste Storage Facilities
- Winter Cover Crops
- Cropland Conversion to Hay or Pasture
- Runoff Management
- Extension of Watering System with Rotational Grazing Management Plans
For more information on our main project types, please see our flyer below.
2022 Cost-Share Flyer
Here’s How the Process Works
- Contact Technical Staff to discuss what you would like to do, and we will be happy to meet with you and offer you options.
- Complete a Application Form & W-9
- You may sign up as a business or as an individual. Therefore, you will need your SSN or Farm Tax ID #.
- Once we have your application, we will create a project estimate and design. After you have approved the estimate and design, it will be submitted to the Board for approval.
- The Headwaters SWCD Board meets once monthly to approve new applications.
Average Cost for BMP Components
Cost-share payment is based on average annual costs or the actual cost to install components, whichever is less.