CHOWAN BASIN SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
COST-SHARE PROGRAM YEAR FY26:
• $300,000 per Participant Cap VACS Only
• Whole Farm Approach has no Caps or Ranking
• Increased Cost-Share funding
A current Nutrient Management Plan written by a VA Certified Nutrient Management Planner is required to be kept on file
at the District to receive cost-share funding for any practice.
​
Cost-Share payments are not permitted without a current NMP on file.
​
It is the participant’s responsibility to keep up with the dates of their NMP and to keep it current!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
•Jennifer Coker, Conservation Education Tech, (434) 594-5750 or jcoker@chowanbasin.com
•Andrew Byers, Conservation Tech, (434) 632-1101 or abyers@chowanbasin.com
•Dalton Harrison, Conservation Tech, (434) 594-8115 or dharrison@chowanbasin.com ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A VACS payment rate per acre is available for pure stands of rye as listed below:
* Early Pure Rye - $90.00/acre
* Standard Pure Rye - $60.00/acre
A VACS payment rate per acre is available for pure stands of Winter Triticale as listed below:
* RateEarly Pure Winter Triticale - $80.00/acre
* Standard Pure Winter Triticale - $50.00/acre
​
A VACS payment rate per acre is available for listed small grains, brassicas, and/or mixtures as listed below:
* Early - $70.00/acre
* Standard - $40.00/acre
An additional VACS payment rate of $5.00 per acre is available for a mixed species cover crop that includes 50-75% small grain.
An additional VACS payment rate of $10.00 per acre is available for a delayed cover crop kill down on May 1 or thereafter,
but no later than June 1.
Planting green, planting directly into the growing cover crop prior to termination, is allowed.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cover Crop – Harvestable
A VACS payment rate of $20.00 per acre is available for cover crop that is harvested for seed/grain and straw.
A VACS payment rate of $30 per acre is available for cover crop that is harvested for seed/grain only with all remaining residue
left on the field (straw cannot be baled).
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cover Crop – Legume
A VACS payment rate of $45.00 per acre is available for legume cover crops.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Select one of the following species and/or mixtures of species to plant in all soils:
​​
​ Rye (Tetraploid) 2 bu./acre
​ Winter Triticale 2 bu./acre
Winter Rye (not tetraploid) 2 bu./acre
Winter Barley 2 bu./acre
Winter Hardy Oats 2 bu./acre
Winter Wheat 2 bu./acre
Winter Annual ryegrass 20 lbs./acre
Small grain mixtures with 1 bu./acre
a) legume† or 10 lbs./acre
b) Daikon
(forage or tillage) radish or 6 lb./ acre
c) canola or rape 4 lbs./acre
Daikon (forage or tillage) radish 6-8 lbs./acre°
mixture with annual rye grass 10 lbs./acre
Winter-hardy Brassica (canola/rape) 5-7 lbs./acre°
mixture with annual rye grass 10 lbs./acre
† legume = Crimson Clover, Austrian Winter Pea or Hairy Vetch
°Use higher seeding rates for pure stands and lower seeding rates for mixed species plantings
Higher seeding rates are recommended for aerial seeding and non-incorporation seeding methods.
​
Seeding of all seed types must be planted by the dates listed below:​
Area Early Planting Date Standard Planting Date
Coastal Plain (including the Eastern Shore) November 10 November 30
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
1. A good stand and good growth of vegetative winter cover must be obtained by December 15 to protect the area from nutrient leaching and runoff in the fall and winter. All cover crop plantings must maintain a minimum of 60% cover crop plant material on the enrolled acres through the lifespan of the practice. District staff will conduct field visits no later than February 28 to verify required cover has been established.
​
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2. The cover crop must be killed using mechanical or chemical means or by grazing no earlier than March 15 and no later than June 1. The cover crop residue may be left on the field for conservation purposes or the cover crop or its residue may be tilled under. The practice will be considered complete once the cover crop has served its purpose and been killed. Residue may not be removed at any time.
3. In order to provide additional nutrient uptake and promote soil health through the increase of biomass above and below the soil surface, an additional incentive is provided for cover crops that are killed using mechanical, chemical or grazing means, on May 1 or thereafter, but no later than June 1. Planting green, planting directly into the growing cover crop prior to termination, is allowed.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The VACS payment rates per acre for pure stands of Rye are below. Participants may also be eligible for the late kill down incentive.
Early Pure Rye $90.00/acre
Standard Pure Rye $60.00/acre
​​
The following list of rye cultivars are approved for the rye payments OR any other indeterminate growth tetraploid rye cultivar:
6250 Abruzzi Paster
Abruzzi Ryman
Dura Virginia Abruzzi
Early Grazer Wheeler
Elbon Wintergrazer 70
Grazer Winterking
Graze Master
4. The VACS payment rates per acre for pure stands of Winter Triticale are below. Participants may also be eligible for the late kill-down incentive.
Early Pure Winter Triticale $80.00/acre
Standard Pure Winter Triticale $50.00/acre
​
5. The VACS payment rates per acre for listed small grains, brassicas, and/or mixtures are below. Participants may also be eligible for the mixed species and late kill down incentives.
Early $70.00/acre
Standard $40.00/acre
​
6. Mixed Species Cover Crop that consist of 50%-75% small grain are eligible for a $5.00 per acre bonus (i.e. pure stands of rye are not eligible).
​
7. Cover crops that are killed using mechanical, chemical or grazing means, on May 1 or thereafter, but no later than June 1, are eligible for a $10.00 per acre bonus. Planting green, planting directly into the growing cover crop prior to termination, is allowed.
​
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WFA-CC Cover Crop – Harvestable Cover Crop
1. No nitrogen and no phosphorus from any sources are allowed between the harvesting of the previous crop and March 1 of the next calendar year, except that use of manure (with less than 40 lbs N. per acre tested value) on up to 300 acres is permitted if all of the following conditions are met:
i. Animals are raised as part of the applicant’s operation;
ii. Inadequate manure storage is available for the winter;
iii. There are no other vegetated acres available to safely utilize the manure;
iv. Manure is applied in accordance with a Nutrient Management Plan prepared by a Virginia certified Nutrient Management Planner.
2. No nitrogen or phosphorus may be applied at planting.
3. A good stand and good growth of vegetative winter cover must be obtained by December 15 to protect the area from nutrient leaching and runoff in the fall and winter. All cover crop plantings must maintain a minimum of 60% cover crop plant material on the enrolled acres through the lifespan of the practice. District staff will conduct field visits no later than February 28 to verify required cover has been established.
4. Harvesting for hay, haylage, silage, grain, or seed is permitted after March 14. Pasturing consistent with sound agronomic management is permitted as long as 60% cover is maintained through March 14.
5. The cover crop residue may be left on the field for conservation purposes, or the cover crop or its residue may be tilled under, or the cover crop may be harvested after March 14.
6. For cover crop that is harvested for seed or grain only, leaving all remaining straw and residue on the field, a higher incentive rate is available. The seed or grain may be harvested after March 14, all remaining cover crop residue (including straw) must be left on the field for conservation. Straw cannot be cut and baled.
Rate(s)
7. A VACS payment rate of $20 per acre is available for cover crop that is harvested for seed/grain and straw, remaining residue may be tilled under. Districts should not issue cost-share funds if a good stand and good growth of winter cover is not obtained before December 1 and maintained through March 14.
8. A VACS payment rate of $30 per acre is available for cover crop that is harvested for seed/grain ONLY, all remaining residue must remain on the field (straw cannot be baled). Districts should not issue cost-share funds if a good stand and good growth of winter cover is not obtained before December 15 and maintained through March 14.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
​​
WFA-CC VACS Payment Rate Worksheet
Component Rate per Acre Participating Acres
Core WFA-CC Base Payment* $4.00/acre
Standard Cover Crop
Early Pure Rye $90.00/acre
Standard Pure Rye $60.00/acre
Early Pure Winter Triticale $80.00/acre
Standard Pure Winter Triticale $50.00/acre
Early – Listed Small Grains, Brassicas, and/or Mixtures $70.00/acre
Standard – Listed Small Grains, Brassicas, and/or Mixtures $40.00/acre
Mixed Species Cover Crop including 50-75% Small Grain $5.00/acre
Cover Crop Kill Down on May 1 or Thereafter, but No Later
than June 1. $10.00/acre
Cover Crop with Fall Application of Manure
Early Pure Rye $55.00/acre
Standard Pure Rye $30.00/acre
Early Pure Winter Triticale $50.00/acre
Standard Pure Winter Triticale $25.00/acre
Early - Listed Small Grains, Brassicas, and/or Mixtures $45.00/acre
Standard - Listed Small Grains, Brassicas, and/or Mixtures $20.00/acre
Mixed Species Cover Crop including 50-75% Small Grain $5.00/acre
Cover Crop Kill Down on May 1 or Thereafter, $10.00/acre
but No Later than June 1
Protective Cover for Specialty Crops $40.00/acre
Harvestable Cover Crop
Grain/seed and straw harvested $20.00/acre
Grain/seed only harvested, remaining residue left on field $30.00/acre
Legume Cover Crop $45.00/acre
​
*The Core WFA-CC Base Payment applies only to eligible acres on a Tract where cover crop is established and a Nutrient Management Plan is being fully implemented. Acres where cover crop is not established and maintained does not qualify for this payment.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​