WINTON – The Hertford Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is expecting to receive its Cost Share Allocation from the NC Agricultural Cost Share Program (NCACSP) and the Agricultural Water Resource Assistance Program (AgWRAP) in July or August of 2017.

Cost Share programs assist landowners and/or farmers with cost share funds and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on their land. These programs are administered by the Hertford SWCD.

The conservation practices help decrease the amount of sediment, nitrogen, phosphorous, and other agricultural run off from entering the surface and ground water of the Chowan River Basin. In addition to these traditional practices, the District plans to use the AgWRAP program to reach new landowners and operators who may have water quantity concerns.

The 2018 program year runs from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Farmers and/or landowners of existing agricultural operations may apply for cost share assistance to implement conservation Best Management Practices (BMP’s) year round beginning July 1, 2017. These practices include Cover Crop, Filter Strips, Abandoned Well Closures, Agrichemical Practices, and many others.

All applications received between July 17 and Sept. 1, 2017 will be ranked in the first batching period for 2018 funds. All applications received after Sept. 1 will be ranked if a later allocation is received.

If you want more information or wish to apply for cost share assistance, please call 252-358-7846. You may also visit the Hertford SWCD office located in the USDA Service Center on West Tryon Street in Winton.

Under the NC Agricultural Cost Share Program, no one is to be denied benefits of the program because of race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, or age. The only lawful criteria for determining eligibility for funds are the improvement of water quality from agricultural lands.