NC Agriculture Cost Share Program
The new program year begins on July 1st. Applications are taken throughout the year.
A major cause of water quality problems in North Carolina and in the US is "nonpoint source" pollution. In many places across our state, damage to our water resources comes from soil erosion, excessive fertilizer use, animal waste contamination, and improper use of agricultural chemicals.
The North Carolina Cost Share Program was established in 1984 to help reduce the sources of agricultural non-point pollution to N.C. waters. This program helps landowners or renters of existing agricultural operations improve their on-farm management by using Best Management Practices, also called BMP's. These BMP's or management systems can make farmers more productive while reducing the potential for polluting surface and groundwater.
The great part about the Cost Share Program is that participants can be reimbursed up to 75% of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. 25% of the costs are the responsibility of the farmer. The farmer's costs may include the use of existing material and labor.
The following BMP's are examples that have been approved for the program.
- Ag Chemical Mixing Facilities
- Water Control Structures
- Terraces and Diversions
- Steambank Stabilization
- Stream Crossings
- Heavy Use Protection Areas
- Sod-based Rotation
- Cover Crop
- Nutrient Scavenger Crop
- Nutrient Management
- No-till/Strip-till Cropping System
- Critical Area Planting
- Field Borders, Filter Strips and Riparian Buffers
- Grade Stabilization Structures
- Grassed Waterways
- Pasture Systems
Visit the NC Agriculture Cost Share Program website from the NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources.