Agricultural Voluntary Incentives Program (AgVIP)

Agricultural Voluntary Incentives Program (AgVIP) is sponsored by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Helps farming operations develop conservation plans to improve crop yields, build soil health, and protect water quality.

Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program (AgVIP) The Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program (AgVIP) is a voluntary, incentive-based program offered by the Utah Soil Health Program to help producers implement nutrient management and soil health practices on their operation.

The goal of the program is to help agricultural producers improve soil health, water quality, and the overall resilience of their operation. Producers who participate in AgVIP will work closely with a UDAF conservation planner to discuss their agricultural operation, explore what new conservation practices may be best suited to their operation, and develop a customized conservation plan.

Producers who successfully implement their plans will be eligible for both monetary incentives and regulatory incentives that are offered in cooperation with the Utah Division of Water Quality. AgVIP applications closed on June 22nd at 5:00 PM MDT. Applicants will be notified of their funding status in mid-July.

All producers who enroll are eligible for a one-time $1,000 payment upon signing their conservation plan as well as annual payments for the three years they are enrolled in the program. Annual payments can range from $10-$20/acre for producers who are able to successfully implement their conservation plan, depending on how many elements they achieve (see below).

Bonus payments (up to $5k/year) can be made for producers who try a new practice for the life of the contract above and beyond the minimum requirements listed above (i.e. four soil health principles instead of three), or for expanding the number of acres a practice is implemented on. Each producer receives an in-field soil health assessment at the start and end of their contract.

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) Required component ($10/ac) A comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) ensures a producer is meeting all State and Federal water quality regulations and managing nutrients in a way that is both agronomically and environmentally sound.

Meet three principles by implementing at least one practice for that category ($5/acre) Soil Health Self Assessment Non-chemical pest control Reducing synthetic fertilizers Over-seeding perennial systems Over-seeding perennial systems Over-seeding perennial systems Biological inputs (seed treatments, innoculants, biostimulants) Salinity/sodicity treatments Prescribed grazing (basic) Prescribed grazing (advanced, adaptive grazing) Mobile grazing shelters (chicken tractors) Stacked livestock grazing Carbon amendments (compost, manure, biochar, etc) Other Conservation Elements Implement three principles from any combination of categories ($5/c) Integrated Pest Management Advanced plant health management Altering timing of planting or harvest Introduction of beneficials or their habitat Pheromones for mating disruption Trapping/depopulating pests Non-lethal pest deterrents Spray management for beneficial insects Invasive species management Weather based decision making Upgrade to more efficient irrigation system (ex flood to sprinkler) Irrigation system automation Irrigation system remote start/stop Algorithm-based scheduling Efficient nozzle packages Irrigation water quality treatment Riparian protection and/or restoration Offsite watering or designated access points Improved manure handling processes or facilities Precision nutrient application Solid/liquid waste separation AgVIP Payment Structure for Small Farms (200 acres or less) CNMP & Financial Element = $2,000/year Soil Health Components = $1,000/year Other Conservation Elements = $1,000/year Other Conservation Elements = $1,000/year Bonus structure remains the same as above.

Note: all contracts are capped at a maximum of $75,000 for the three year period, including all bonus payments. AgVIP is a voluntary, incentive-based program. A producer’s inability to successfully implement their conservation plan will not result in any regulatory actions, they will simply be ineligible for any monetary or regulatory incentives that crop year.

The Utah Soil Health Partnership works to provide a support network for Utah farmers and ranchers trying to implement soil health practices. The Utah Soil Health Partnership is a collaboration of local government and agricultural organizations that aims to improve and protect Utah soils. Our partners work together to build localized knowledge and research about soil health principles.

The partnership consists of farmers, agencies, industry representatives, and others who are dedicated to moving soil health forward in Utah. With the support of local agriculture, the partnership is building a network of on-farm research and demonstration sites in order to to evaluate and demonstrate soil health principles at work throughout Utah.

Utah Soil Health Partnership Website Resources for farmers implementing positive soil health practices. Soil health testing, plans & principles, grant applications, Utah Soil Health Partnership contact & project information.