Agricultural BMP
Cost-Share Program

VFBF Position
We encourage long term and stable state funding of the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program from a dedicated revenue source for all approved applications of soil and water conservation practices.

Background
The Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program is a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and farmers. The farmer must contribute a significant amount of capital to these practices. 

In 2006, the General Assembly directed the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop a comprehensive plan to address all sources of pollution to Virginia’s waters. In January 2007, the Secretary of Natural Resources established goals for achieving water quality as outlined in the “Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Waters Clean-up Plan.” Two of the goals for achieving improved water quality from nonpoint sources require “widespread adoption of cost-effective agricultural best management practices.” By 2013, if five priority BMP practices are implemented, an estimated 60% of the needed nonpoint source nutrient reductions will be achieved in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These five priority practices are nutrient management plans to minimize fertilizer use, buffers of vegetation along streamside to trap and filter runoff, “no till” planting to minimize erosion, cover crops to absorb leftover fertilizer, and fencing to keep livestock out of streams. The second goal is implementation of TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load) on approximately 400 impaired river and stream segments in the Southern Rivers watershed by 2018. The total cost for achieving these two goals is approximately $1 billion. This amount includes funding for technical assistance by the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Virginia Farm Bureau, along with the Virginia Agribusiness Council, Virginia Dairymen’s Association, and the Virginia Poultry Federation, have formed a coalition with the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Virginia Chesapeake Bay Foundation, James River Association, Virginia forever, Friends of Rappahannock, and Potomac Conservancy to form The Agriculture and Conservation Partnership for Water Quality.  Farmers, along with the Partnership, appreciate the Governor and the General Assembly establishing a strong foundation to meeting the above goals. In fact, 65% of the $20 million has been committed for implementation of Ag BMP practices (by October 2008). This truly demonstrates the willingness of farmers to partner with the Commonwealth on achieving its water quality goals when the funding source is reliable and consistent. 
                                             
The Partnership has requested the Governor and the General Assembly to include $38 million for the AgBMP Cost-Share Program and the technical assistance needed to implement those practices. We recognize the fiscal constraints of the Commonwealth. Therefore, this amount represents what local Soil and Water Conservation Districts can implement with current staffing levels. Even at this level of funding, the Commonwealth will not be on schedule to meet its commitments in achieving the water quality goals by 2013 and 2018 respectively. The Commonwealth can’t go backwards by not continuing to provide these funds.

Reasons for Position

1. To reach two of the nonpoint source policy goals established by the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Waters Clean-up Plan, $100 million is still needed over the next ten years. However, in light of the current fiscal constraints of the Commonwealth, $38 million would allow the program to grow, fully utilize existing staff, and demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment towards trying to meet those goals.
2. Virginia farmers would match those dollars with $22.75 million. So, this demonstrates that program is not a “hand out.”
3. If a long term and stable funding source is not achieved, the timeframe for achieving water quality goals will have to be extended.