The Patrick County Soil & Water Conservation District can help you qualify for funds that decrease the cost of planting cover crops on your farm, which can boost your bottom line by increasing moisture retention and drought resistance, reducing soil erosion caused by wind and water and improving soil structure and tilth.
Funds come from the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Voluntary Program, which is carried out by conservation districts and administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Planting a system of continuous, year-round cover reduces nonpoint source pollution by slowing runoff and taking up excess nitrogen that otherwise would leach into the water table. Cover crops also prevent soil erosion caused by wind and rain. Choosing the right cover for your crop rotation is important. Planting early in the season generally produces the best economic and environmental results. No-till practices further enhance cover crop benefits by allowing biomass to accumulate and enrich the soil.
The Virginia Cost-Share reimburses for small grain cover crop planted for nutrient and residue management. This is the most popular best management practice related to cover crops. Participating farmers can qualify also for early planting and/or for rye cultivars. Cover crop cost-share rates change annually. Additional bottom-line benefits depend on the type of cover you plant and your soil conditions. District staff can help you identify the cover crop practice that best fits your farm operation.
Please contact the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District office which serves the County of Patrick, at 276-694-2911 or stop by the office at 104 Via Avenue, Stuart, Va.
The district can help you apply for many different cost-share funding programs to help implement cover crop best management practices.
