Copy of Agricultural Conservation

Agricultural Conservation

Here in Virginia, we have been striving to improve water quality for decades and restoring the Chesapeake Bay has been a major priority at the local, state, and federal levels. A tricky problem to address in this work has been the goal of reducing non-point-source pollution. This type of pollution does not have an easily identifiable source and can happen in any area, such as a residential yard, a sports field, or a farm. Because it is difficult to identify the source, the best way to deal with non-point-source pollution is to address it before it becomes a problem.

One way this is done in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is through the regulation of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential parts of plant fertilizers. When excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus get into waterways, they can cause a variety of issues within the local ecosystem, like increased algae growth, dead-zones, and fish kills. We can’t stop using fertilizers entirely, we need them to grow the food we eat and to keep grass and other vegetation healthy to stabilize the soil.

Virginia created a nutrient management program to help address non-point-source pollution from fertilizer, where certified planners can help homeowners, farmers, and property managers reduce the chances of non-point-source pollution happening when they use fertilizers. Fertilizer use plans are written with the 4 Rs in mind: the right amount, the right place, the right time, and the right type of fertilizer for the plants to be grown and cared for.

Precision Agriculture can mean different things to different people, but generally, it is a management strategy where location, soil, climate, and hybrid-specific information is used to grow a crop on a particular farm field.

Precision Agriculture frequently involves using georeferenced data collected by farm equipment, like the soil mapping implement, or the combine harvester. Some farm field level management decisions can be made simply by reviewing records and notes from years past, like where equipment access is poor, or surface water ponds. Changing Management based on this type of information can be quite helpful in the long run.

How Does Precision Agriculture Work?

A farmer may want to improve on their use of resources (seed, fertilizer, etc.) that they invest in a farm field in a given crop year; this may save money, reduce the impact on the environment, or generally increase the efficiency of the farm operation.

Observations and data from the farm field in prior years can be used to inform future management decisions. Such data often includes information on crop harvest, like the map on the left for example.

After analysis, a field “prescription” can be created out of different management zones The map on the right showcases small management zones that could be used during planting to ensure more resources go to the areas in the field that have had a better history of producing more crops.

Cover crops are plants that farmers grow mainly to protect and improve the soil, not to harvest for food or profit. They’re usually planted during the off-season—like in the fall after the main crop (such as corn or soybeans) has been harvested.

These crops “cover” the soil, which helps:

Prevent erosion
- Their roots hold the soil in place so wind and water don’t wash it away.
Improve soil health
- They add organic matter and nutrients back into the ground.
Reduce weeds
- Cover crops compete with weeds for sunlight, space, and nutrients.
Conserve water
- They help the soil absorb and hold more moisture.
Support pollinators and beneficial insects
- Some cover crops attract bees and insects that are good for the environment.

Common cover crops include:

Clover
Rye
Vetch
Radishes
Buckwheat

After they’ve done their job, cover crops are usually tilled into the soil or naturally die off, making the soil richer for the next growing season.

In short, cover crops are a natural, sustainable way to take care of the land between harvests.

NEW

Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program

Assisting agricultural producers with increasing conservation efforts in their operations is one of the core missions of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. District staff provide technical assistance with these efforts and administer financial cost-share programs that can offset some of the costs of eligible conservation practices.

Reach out to the District staff if you have any questions or would like assistance with the Voluntary Survey you may have heard about from partners.

Permeable pavements are alternative paving surfaces that allow stormwater runoff to filter through voids in the pavement surface into an underlying stone reservoir, where it is temporarily stored and/or infiltrated. Traditionally paved surfaces are impermeable, converting rainfall to runoff. Permeable pavement slows and captures rainwater, allowing it to infiltrate, promoting a high degree of runoff volume reduction and nutrient removal, and reducing the amount of impervious cover of a developed site. A variety of permeable pavement surfaces are available, including pervious gird pavers, porous asphalt/concrete, and permeable interlocking pavers. While the specific design may vary, all permeable pavement systems have a similar structure, consisting of a surface permeable pavement layer, an underlying stone aggregate reservoir layer, and a filter layer or fabric installed underneath.

Previous Grid Pavers typically consist of a plastic or wire mesh grid filled with amended soil or sandy gravel on top of a 4-12 inch clean stone aggregate. These are typically used for low traffic areas.

Porous Asphalt and Concrete consist of a pavement mix with few fines that create pores in the surface. The Asphalt/Concrete is placed on top of a filter layer of clean pea gravel above a 12-24 inch clean stone aggregate reservoir.

Permeable Interlocking Pavers have previous seams around the paver filled with sandy gravel or pea gravel. The pavers are placed on top of a filter layer of clean pea gravel above a 12-24 inch clean stone aggregate reservoir.

Permeable pavement is typically designed with an underdrain and treats stormwater that falls on the actual pavement surface area, but it may also be used to accept run-off from small adjacent impervious areas, such as driving lanes or rooftops.

How Does Precision Agriculture Work?

Observations and data from the farm field in prior years can be used to inform future management decisions. Such data often includes information on crop harvest, like the map on the left for example.

These crops “cover” the soil, which helps:

Prevent erosion – Their roots hold the soil in place so wind and water don’t wash it away.
Improve soil health – They add organic matter and nutrients back into the ground.
Reduce weeds – Cover crops compete with weeds for sunlight, space, and nutrients.
Conserve water – They help the soil absorb and hold more moisture.
Support pollinators and beneficial insects – Some cover crops attract bees and insects that are good for the environment.

Common cover crops include:

Clover
Rye
Vetch
Radishes
Buckwheat

After they’ve done their job, cover crops are usually tilled into the soil or naturally die off, making the soil richer for the next growing season.

In short, cover crops are a natural, sustainable way to take care of the land between harvests.

Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District

Serving Charles City, James City, New Kent, and York Counties, and the City of Williamsburg

Agricultural Conservation

Resource Management Planning

Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act

Precision Agriculture

Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program

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