To achieve this objective, this pilot will:

• provide financial incentives to producers and landowners, including early adopters, to adopt climate-smart agricultural production practices, activities, and systems on working lands;

• develop markets to promote climate-smart commodities; and

• measure, quantify, monitor, and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits resulting from these practices

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Virginia’s pilot will be led by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and implemented by the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District and Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District (“Supporting Partners”). Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program will assist the supporting partners with recruitment. In line with the Justice40 goals, 40% of participating producers will be underserved or limited resource operations.

 

Approved Climate Smart Practices 

Qualifying practices have been selected from the USDA-NRCS list of conservation practices. All practices will meet approved NRCS standards.  

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Conservation Practice Standards:​

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Project Area - Year 1 

Thomas Jefferson SWCD (5 Localities):

•  Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson Counties and the city of Charlottesville.

Colonial SWCD in partnership with Hanover-Caroline, Henricopolis, James River, Peanut, Three Rivers, Tidewater SWCD’s (19 Localities):

• Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Essex, Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Prince George, Surry, and York Counties, and the cities of Suffolk and Williamsburg.