Let’s Keep Our Promise to Virginia Farmers and Waterways

Virginia farm and environmental leaders join forces for clean water budget

As Virginia legislators prepare to finalize the budget for the next two years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Virginia Farm Bureau, and Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are urging leaders to fix a funding shortfall in farm conservation practices and invest in other programs that reduce pollution to waterways.

For more than 40 years, Virginia’s Agricultural Cost-Share Program has helped farmers install solutions that both benefit the environment and their farms. Fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and other conservation practices are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to reduce nutrient pollution to local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The program has been fully funded since 2022. This much-needed period of stability has allowed program staff numbers to grow while these experts gain experience and build valuable relationships with farmers.

However, the current budget proposal introduced by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin would underfund the program, threatening to upset that stability. Fortunately, legislators are currently considering budget amendments that would fully fund the program.

Virginia legislators have set a July 1, 2028, deadline for farmers to meet goals for reducing pollution from agriculture. Even after reaching these goals, continued investment will be needed to keep pollution from growing.

“Meeting Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay clean up goals requires a heavy lift from farmers. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas,” said Martha Moore, senior vice president of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau. “Farmers are doing their part to improve the land and waterways, but we need the state to fulfill its promise. Cuts to the agricultural cost-share program would mean losing trained staff, valuable expertise, and hard-earned trust.”

This state budget will be the first after Virginia joined state and federal leaders from across the region in December to commit to an update to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. That new accord binds Virginia to meeting numerous environmental goals by 2040.

“Farmers are on the front lines of efforts to create clean-running streams and a healthy Chesapeake Bay,” said CBF Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford. “After recommitting to the Bay Agreement, Virginia should back words with action by fully funding its clean water programs.”

Budget amendments currently under consideration would fully fund the program by adding $8.5 million to the introduced budget funding levels for the program in the first year and $71.89 million in the second (Items 362 #19h by Del. Krizek and 362 #13s by Sen. Marsden, as well as 362 #7h by Del. Bloxom and 362 #10s Sen. Pillion).

“Farmers rely on consistent state support to protect both our waterways and their livelihoods,” said Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Executive Director Kendall Tyree. “Decades of collaboration have delivered cleaner streams and productive farms. Now we must make sure we don’t backtrack on that progress.”

This Sunday, Feb. 22, Virginia legislators will release budget proposals in both the House and Senate. In addition to agricultural cost-share, CBF urges lawmakers to support the following provisions:

• Save Virginia’s Trees. As Virginia loses tree cover at an alarming rate, legislators can increase support for the Department of Forestry’s Trees for Clean Water grant program, which funds community-based tree planting and restoration projects. Legislators should allocate $4 million to the program through budget amendments 362 #18h (Del. Krizek) and 362 #15s (Sen. Surovell).
• Make Pay-for-Outcomes Permanent. This effort incentivizes innovation in environmental restoration by paying only for verified pollution reductions. Demand for this program outpaced funding six to one in its first year. Virginia can make the program permanent and add $20 million to the fund through the budget amendment Item 368 #9h from Del. Krizek.
• Increase funding for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), which expands nature-based stormwater solutions on private properties, schools, and community sites to reduce pollution in rivers and streams.

“Virginia’s rivers and streams are the lifeblood of our economy and way of life. When we invest in clean water, we’re paid back in dividends in the form of healthier communities, thriving businesses, and higher quality of life,” said Ford.