Agricultural Enhancement Program (AgEP)

Agricultural Enhancement Program (AgEP) is sponsored by West Virginia Department of Agriculture. The AgEP offers technical and financial assistance as an incentive to implement conservation best management practices. Its primary objectives include reducing nutrients and sediment in state waters and increasing farm profitability and sustainability.

WVCA - Agricultural Enhancement Program West Virginia Conservation Agency • 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.

• Charleston, WV 25305 • 304-558-2204 State Conservation Committee Agricultural Enhancement Program Emergency Watershed Protection Stream Protection and Restoration Landowner Stream Access Permit Program Operation, Maintenance & Repair Program Potomac Valley Poultry Litter Program Conservation Farm of the Year Grassland Evaluation Contest WVACD Contests & Programs Agricultural Enhancement Program What is the Agricultural Enhancement Program?

The West Virginia Agricultural Enhancement Program (AgEP) is administered by the West Virginia Conservation Districts (CDs) with assistance from the West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA).

AgEP's mission is to assist the agricultural cooperators of West Virginia Conservation Districts with the voluntary implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on West Virginia agricultural lands in order to conserve and improve land and water quality for all West Virginia residents. The program offers technical and financial assistance as an incentive to implement suggested best management practices.

Overall program primary objectives include the reduction of nutrients and sediment from entering the waters within the State and increasing farm profitability and sustainability. AgEP Newsletter July 2018. pdf What are agricultural best management practices?

Agronomic or engineering activities that contribute to the wise use and sustainability of natural resources. What are the BMPs offered through AgEP? Each Conservation District (CD) has the opportunity to select from the State Conservation Committee approved list.

Please contact your local CD to learn which practices are available for you. This WVCA BMP manual is available and contains useful information. (Click on BMPs to see a brief definition for each.

The name will appear in red for that BMP on the next page.) Heavy Use Area Protection Invasive Species Management Nutrient Management (Commercial Fertilizer) Pasture Establishment or Reseeding Water Protection Exclusion Fence Applications are taken during set periods at the Conservation District office. For specific dates contact your local CD .

In order to be eligible for the program you must: Be a Conservation District cooperator within the CD you are applying Obtain a conservation plan (have materials to support development of a plan) Obtain a comprehensive nutrient management plan, if applicable Be the owner or operator of the land (if operator proof is required) Additional land eligibility criteria may exist - contact your local CD for additional information How is my application evaluated?

Each eligible application is ranked by staff according to approved ranking criteria. Questions range from general information to practice-specific. Please follow THIS LINK to see a list of BMP specific evaluation forms.

Who makes the approvals/denials? The Conservation District board takes action on AgEP applications based on the ranking scores and available funds. Applications by Conservation District supervisors are approved/denied by the West Virginia Conservation Agency based on the ranking scores and available funds.

What are the program timelines? The program year for AgEP is July 1 - June 30. The program criteria, financial assistance rates, program schedules, BMPs and other information is approved each year by the State Conservation Committee and must remain in place for the entire program year.

Each CD will have different application periods, ranking periods and program deadlines within the July 1 - June 30 program year. Please contact your local CD for additional information. What has AgEP accomplished in previous years?

Post newsletters, photos of practices, other articles? What other resources are available for conservation assistance? Please look over the resources provided by other agencies on our Outside links page .

Below are a few examples of best management practices through AgEP: Alternative Watering Systems Contact your local conservation district office for more information on the AgEP.