Water Quality Funds for Virginia Farmers
Currently we are part of a unique coalition of agricultural and
conservation organizations (see full list below): The Agriculture and
Conservation Partnership for Water Quality. Together, the
Partnership is promoting state legislation that will establish reliable state
funding for agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that reduce farm
runoff, such as planting streamside forest buffers and installing livestock
exclusion fencing along streams.
The Issue
In 2000, the Commonwealth made a promise to reduce
nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Significant progress has been made to reduce
point-source pollution from wastewater treatment plants but non-point source pollution, such as
runoff from farmland, suburban and urban areas, continues to plague our
waterways. In the Rappahannock
River watershed, 94% of water pollution is from non-point sources, and 30% to 55% of this pollution stems from farmland runoff.
Twelve million pounds
of nitrogen can be removed from the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers by
implementing agricultural BMPs. This
will achieve 90% of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay nitrogen pollution cleanup goals. Bay region farmers
have shown they are ready and willing to use these conservation tools on their
farms; the problem they face is the expense. Conservation practices can be
costly, forcing farmers into debt to be good conservation stewards.
The Solution: House
Bill 1335 and Senate Bill 511
The Partnership is advocating for the passage of HB 1335 and
SB 511. These bills call for the
Commonwealth to dedicate a sustainable funding source for the Virginia
Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program – a voluntary public-private partnership
that works with farmers to protect our soil and water.
Visit the official website of the Virginia General Assembly to view HB 1335 and SB 511.
TAKE ACTION: We Need YOUR help!
We need you to write, call or email your Senator or Delegate
and communicate your support of this legislation. YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Below, we have provided a list of VA
representatives for the Rappahannock
River watershed, talking
points about this legislation, and a sample letter to send your legislator.
**********
To receive current action alerts, join our email action
alert list, River Issues. This is the best way to keep up-to-date on
when we need your help with initiatives such as this legislation.
**********
The Agriculture and
Conservation Partnership for Water Quality
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Friends of the Rappahannock
James River Association
Potomac Conservancy
Virginiaforever
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Virginia Poultry Federation
Virginia State Dairymen’s Association