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.

Apply here!

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:

Nutrient Management (590)
Pasture and Hay Planting (512)
Grazing Management (formerly prescribed grazing) (528)

An additional stipend ($3,000) 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:

Create an account on the Alliance Dashboard
Fill out the Producer Application
Upload the following documents:
- Farm maps
- Current federal fiscal year Subsidiary Print
- W-9 form for the individual or entity listed in your application
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

Enrollment Steps

What to Expect After Selection

If you are selected to participate, a few next steps will appear in your dashboard to help you get started. These steps are designed to guide you through enrollment and set you up for success in the program.

First 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 six months into your contract period
You may begin working on it at any time
Completion of this worksheet is required to receive your second payment

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
Practice Exit Survey

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

Producer Agreements

All enrolled producers receive:

$100 per acre (up to $12,000 per farm)
- $125 per acre (up to $15,000) for producers who qualify as Limited Resource or Socially Disadvantaged*
Technical assistance every step of the way—from application through implementation

*Status must be reflected on your Subsidiary Print.

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

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:

Producer application, including application form, farm map(s), subsidiary print, and W-9 tax form.
Confirmation of Enrollment
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:

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:

Submission of practice worksheet
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.

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.

Virginia Help Desk

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

allianceforcsaVA@vt.edu

Contact the Virginia team

Libby Hewitt

Virginia Program Specialist

Jaclyn Hall

Virginia Project Assistant

Sarah Gower

Technical Specialist

Alliance Dashboard

Apply, track, and manage your enrollment in one place

Click here to:

Manage your application
Complete required tasks
Access program resources

Alliance Dashboard

Application Resources

Click here to view sample documents and practice worksheets

Click here to view:

Sample Farm Service Agency documents, including farm maps and subsidiary prints
W-9 tax form guidance
Practice implementation requirements

Application Resources

Program Contacts and Partners

STATE IMPLEMENTER
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreatio

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

Back To Our Partners

Should I apply to the General Program or the Pasture Renovation Subpilot?

Choose the program that fits your operation and level of commitment. You may only enroll in one program.

The General Program is a good fit if you want flexibility—you can enroll in just one practice (Nutrient Management, Grazing Management, or Pasture and Hay Planting), enroll up to 120 acres, and earn $100 per acre.

The Pasture Renovation Subpilot is a better fit if you are able to implement all three practices within one year. This option offers a higher payment of $300 per acre but requires completing all practices and allows enrollment of up to 50 acres.

Producers who have enrolled once before are still eligible to apply. Producers who have previously enrolled twice are not eligible for this round.

Select a program above to find out more.

What do I need to apply?

The application requires Farm Service Agency records. Please contact your local FSA office to get the following documents:

Farm map(s) showing the farm numbers, tracts, and fields you wish to enroll in the Alliance
- See example here
Current federal fiscal year Subsidiary Print
- See example here

You will also need to submit a W-9 tax form, for the individual or entity applying.

See instructions here

If I have already enrolled in the Alliance, can I enroll again?

Producers who have enrolled once before are still eligible. Producers who have previously enrolled twice are not eligible for this round.

If I decide the Pasture Renovation Subpilot is too much, can I switch to the General Program, or do I need to choose before I apply?

You must choose either the General Program or the Pasture Renovation Subpilot before submitting your application. Only one application will be considered.

How long does it typically take to get current FSA farm maps and a Subsidiary Print if I need to request them?

It varies from county to county based on the capacity of local service center. Many offices require you to make an appointment before coming in to request those documents. It also depends on if you have an existing account with them on record or if you need to establish operator status for the land you wish to enroll, etc.

You can view sample documents below to ensure the documents you receive meet the eligibility criteria for the Alliance.

Sample DocumentsClick here to view examples for all documents required for the Alliance

What are the requirements for each practice?

Practice RequirementsClick here to view the requirements for implementing each practice.

Are Virginia Tech or Virginia State University employees eligible?

Absolutely! As long as you meet the program eligibility, you are welcome to apply.