Virginia

Virginia’s pilot will be led by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and implemented by the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District and Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District (“Supporting Partners”). Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program will assist the supporting partners with recruitment.

Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, including Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Nelson County, Albemarle County, and the City of Charlottesville.

Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District, including Charles City County, James City County, New Kent County, York County and the City of Williamsburg.

For this project, Colonial has an expanded district with additional eligible counties including Caroline, Chesterfield, Essex, Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, the City of Richmond, Isle of Wight, King & Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, Prince George, Surry, and the City of Suffolk.

The Alliance is open to agricultural producers within the participating counties listed above.

Producers are allowed to submit up to two farm “bundles,” with no limit on the number of Farm Service Agency numbers, as long as the total enrolled land does not exceed 160 acres or animal units per bundle (for a maximum of 320 per applicant).  Zero, one, or both bundles may be accepted.  If neither bundle is selected, the producer is encouraged to reapply during future application periods.

Eligible producers will:

• Enroll a minimum of (2) acres at an operation located within one of the approved participating districts (there is no minimum enrollment for animal units);
• Have a verified Farm Service Agency (FSA) number;
• Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not also be enrolled in a USDA conservation program or other program associated with USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers initiative;
• Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not be dually enrolled in a cost-share program;
• Confirm that the producer will have control of the land for the term of the producer agreement, and
• The producer must consent to report total greenhouse gas benefits using COMET, Fieldprint and/or RUSLE2.

Applications will be at www.allianceforcsa.org during the open enrollment period. Hard copies will be available at district offices.

Qualifying practices have been selected from the USDA-NRCS list of conservation practices, linked below.  Enrolled producers will self-verify the planning and implementation of practices using the Alliance Practice Worksheets, which have been adapted from NRCS standards.  Click here to view the Practice Worksheets for each state.

Conservation Crop Rotation (328)
Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (329)
Cover Crop (340)
Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)
Nutrient Management (590)
Prescribed Grazing (528)

This project will pay producers $100 per acre or animal unit per year. Only one practice can be applied per acre or animal unit. Producers will be able to install as many practices as they choose, as long as each practice occurs on different acres or animal units across the farm.

Producers will receive 50% of the payment upfront, 25% after implementation and verification, and 25% after final reporting. Underserved producers may be eligible for a 100% upfront payment. All payments will be issued by Virginia Tech.

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

Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District
alliance@colonialswcd.org

Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
alliance@tjswcd.org