The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District has been allocated cost share funds through Virginia’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Program to help improve water quality in Patrick County.

Sign up announced for Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Funds Submitted by: Patrick Soil & Water Conservation District The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District has been allocated cost share funds through Virginia’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Program to help improve water quality in Patrick County. These funds are made available through appropriations by the Virginia General Assembly and are derived entirely from state sources. Eligible BMP practices include but are not limited to: Grazing Systems, Reforestation of Erodible Crop and Pasture Land, Permanent Vegetative Cover on Cropland, Terraces, and Waterways. Please stop by the District office for a complete list of BMP’s that are eligible for assistance, which is located in the USDA Service Center. BMP’s are cost-shared on a percentage basis up to 75 percent and incentive payments. Each BMP application will be ranked and funded according to a simple BMP ranking criteria approved by the Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Priority will be given to land with the highest water quality improvements. Other program requirements and restrictions vary per practice. SWCD’s administer the BMP program to encourage farmers to use BMP’s on their land to better control sediment, nutrient loss, and transportation of pollutants into our waters from excessive surface flow, erosion, and leaching. Those interested in cost-share assistance are encouraged to apply now during the sign up period. To schedule a field visit or for further details , please contact Tony Collins or Sandra Heath at the Patrick SWCD at (276) 694-3121, ext 3 or by stopping by the District office, which is located in the USDA Service Center at 135 Stonewall Court behind Stuart Baptist Church along with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency offices.