Pasture Renovation Subpilot

The Alliance Virginia Pasture Renovation Subpilot Project is a targeted effort to support the improvement and renovation of grazing lands used by livestock producers in Virginia.

The Alliance Virginia Pasture Renovation Subpilot Project is a targeted effort to support the improvement and renovation of grazing lands used by livestock producers in Virginia. This approach will provide support to enable reseeding or overseeding, nutrient management, and grazing planning for livestock producers in Virginia.
Objectives 
  • Facilitate the revitalization of Virginia pastured through implementation of conservation practices consistent with USDA NRCS standards
  • Support producers in covering costs required for pasture renovation
  • Generate data and insights to inform recommendations and tools for grazing managers
  • Build producer readiness for application to cost-share or regulatory programs

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

PRODUCER ELIGIBILITY
Participating producers will receive $300 per acre enrolled (capped at 50 acres) to implement all three of the following NRCS practices:
  1. Nutrient Management (590)
  2. Pasture and Hay Planting (512)
  3. Grazing Management (formerly prescribed grazing) (528)

An additional stipend ($3000) is offered to producers who volunteer to participate in a Virginia Tech research study related to the project. Participation will require:

  • Pre- and post-implementation soil and forage tests (collected and analyzed by research team)
  • Participation in a 30-to-45-minute interview and completion of an extended exit survey (estimated 30 minutes)
Eligibility criteria:
  • Operate an active grazing operation in Virginia
  • Willingness to renovate soil, plant, and livestock elements of the grazing system through implementation of nutrient management, pasture planting, and grazing management
  • Submit FSA farm map(s), land unit descriptions, a 2026 FSA subsidiary print, and a W-9 tax form
    • Contracts will not extend beyond May 31, 2027
To receive funding under this track, participating producers must: 
  • Develop a nutrient management plan (NMP) that seeks to maintain or enhance pasture or hay production while minimizing resource degradation. 
    • The NMP shall be prepared by an individual certified as a NMP writer by the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation.  
    • The NMP must recommend practices that minimize site-specific risk of soil erosion, runoff, and associated nutrient loss. 
    • If the NMP recommends manure/biosolids applications on fields with Very High (VH) soil test P levels, those rate recommendations must be derived from the P-Index using RUSLE2 erosion estimates (or the recommended rates must be no greater than the P-Index-derived rate). 
  • Establish adapted and compatible species, varieties, or cultivars of perennial herbaceous plants suitable for pasture production. 
    • Plant species and cultivars should be selected based on climatic, soil, and land area conditions 
    • Intended use, level of management, yield estimates, and stage of vegetative growth for planned harvest must be considered 
    • Planting rates, methods, and dates must follow recommendations from the NRCS Plant Materials Program, and seeding rates must be consistent with State and local criteria 
  • Establish a grazing plan to manage the harvest of vegetation with grazing animals with intent to achieve specific ecological, economic, and management outcomes.  
    • Using a minimum of a 4 grazing-unit rotation area, and targeting a stocking rate of at least 2 acres per animal unit, develop a plan for grazing management of the pasture areas 
    • This plan should ensure that animals are removed from grazing spaces, and that those spaces are rested for species/cultivar-appropriate minimum times 
HOW TO APPLY
Getting started is simple. Follow the steps below to complete your application through the Alliance Dashboard:
  1. Create an account on the Alliance Dashboard
  2. Fill out the Producer Application
  3. Upload the following documents:
    • Farm maps
    • Current federal fiscal year Subsidiary Print
    • W-9 form for the individual or entity listed in your application
  4. Submit your application

View sample documents and other guidance here.

After You Apply

Once you apply:

  • Your application is reviewed for eligibility and accuracy
  • You’ll be contacted if anything needs to be updated
  • Applications typically take about 30 days after the deadline for decisions

Note: Applications can’t be edited while under review—reach out if you need help making a change.

Application Review Process

Each application is carefully reviewed to ensure all information is complete and consistent.

During review, we will check that:

  • Your application matches your farm maps, Subsidiary Print, and W-9

If something needs to be corrected:

  • Your application will be returned to you with guidance on what needs to be updated
  • You will receive an email notification
  • The relevant section will reopen in your dashboard so you can make edits and resubmit

Once your application is approved, it will move forward into a randomized selection process run by the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

Enrollment Decisions
  • Selected producers will be notified within 30 days after the application deadline
  • If selected, you will have 7 days to accept or decline the offer

If you choose not to enroll:

  • Your application will be closed
  • Your information will not be shared
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Producers will receive 50% of the payment upfront, 25% after implementation and verification, and 25% after final reporting.
All payments will be issued by Virginia Tech.
Contract Stages

Within 90 days of contract start

✔  Engage nutrient management planner and begin planting and grazing plans within 90 days of contract start

Within 180 days of contract start

✔  Complete grazing plan

Within 270 days of contract start

✔  Complete nutrient management plan, fertilize (if appropriate) and plant pastures

Payment 1:  50% of total contract amount
The following tasks must be complete to release the first payment:
  1. Producer application, including application form, farm map(s), subsidiary print, and W-9 tax form.
  2. Confirmation of Enrollment
  3. Producer Agreement
Payment 2:  25% of total contract amount
The second payment will be released no earlier than (6) months into the contract.

The following tasks must be complete to release the second payment:

  1. Submission of grazing and nutrient management plans
Payment 3:  25% of total contract amount
The final payment will be released no earlier than (12) months into the contract.

The following tasks must be complete to release the final payment:

  1. Submission of practice worksheet
  2. Exit surveys
    1. Program Experience Survey
    2. Virginia Tech Exit Survey
    3. USDA Exit Survey
    4. Practice Exit Survey

If participating in the research study and exit survey is complete, payment 3 will include the additional stipend.

ENROLLMENT STEPS
Please complete the following items to move forward:

Confirmation of Enrollment

  • Accept or decline your offer to enroll
  • Review and acknowledge the terms and conditions of your selected practice

CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation (No Action Required)

  • A CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation is required for each enrolled practice
  • The Alliance team will complete and submit this on your behalf
  • Once approved, it will be uploaded to your dashboard

These steps must be completed before additional tasks become available.

Next Steps

Once the above items are complete, you will be able to access the following:

Producer Agreement

  • This agreement outlines your responsibilities for implementing practices and reporting data
  • Your contract begins once the agreement is signed
  • Please review carefully — agreements cannot be changed after signing
  • If updates are needed (such as changes to practices or FSA information), you will need to contact the Alliance team for assistance

Practice Worksheet

  • This worksheet will become available after your agreement is signed
  • It is due at the end contract period
  • You may begin working on it at any time
Program Surveys

As part of the program, you will also be asked to complete a few short surveys. These help improve the program and demonstrate its impact:

  • Program Experience Survey
  • Virginia Tech Exit Survey (administered by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics)
  • USDA Marketing Commodities Survey

If you have questions at any point, the Alliance team is here to help.

PRODUCER INCENTIVES
All enrolled producers receive:
  • $300 per acre (up to $15,000 per farm)
  • Technical assistance every step of the way—from application through implementation
Support Throughout the Program

We’re here to make the process manageable and worthwhile:

  • Guidance through enrollment and required steps
  • Help completing your practice worksheet (proof of practice implementation)
  • Support with required USDA data reporting
Your Conservation Impact Report
  • A clear summary of the improvements you’ve made
  • Shows how your practices are benefiting soil, water, and your operation
  • Helps demonstrate the long-term value of your conservation work
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The Alliance team is here to help you put conservation into practice—on your farm, and on your terms.

We can support you with:

  • Choosing the right conservation practices for your operation
  • Completing your Practice Worksheet
  • Meeting data reporting requirements, including:
    • COMET-Planner
    • Required program surveys
DATA REPORTING

As part of the program, enrolled producers will complete a few additional data and survey requirements. This helps demonstrate the impact of your conservation work and supports continued investment in agriculture through USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers initiative.

  • Data collection is managed by Virginia Tech
  • Requirements vary based on your farm, location, and selected practices

What You May Be Asked to Provide

For Cropland Acres:

  • Crop rotations (current and planned)
  • Yield information
  • Tillage and irrigation practices
  • Input applications (fertilizer, etc.)
  • Soil sampling results

For Livestock or Grazing Acres:

  • Herd information
  • Farm maps
  • Grazing management details
  • Supplemental feeding practices

There are two programs available in Virginia, and you may enroll in only one.  Click here to view the requirements for the 2026 Program.

Alliance Dashboard

Apply, track, and manage your enrollment in one place
Alliance Dashboard

Application Resources

Guidance on applying and enrolling in the Alliance.

Click here to view sample FSA documents and practice worksheets.

Application Resources

If you are an eligible producer interested in participating in the pilot, please contact:

allianceforcsaVA@vt.edu
STATE IMPLEMENTER
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Virginia Cooperative Extension
OUTREACH PARTNER
Virginia State University Small Farm Outreach Program

If you are enrolled in the Livestock Subpilot, you can view program requirements here.

Livestock Subpilot
Back To Our Partners