Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP)

The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP), authorized through Session Law 2011-145, helps landowners identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability, and storage and implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and protect water resources for agricultural purposes. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts, which allocate funds into general District Allocations and a Regional Application Process so districts can implement both local and larger regional projects. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost, or actual cost up to a cost cap, for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs.

Landowners or renters operating a Bonafide Farm for more than one year. The applicant must make less than $250,000; if the applicant makes more than $250,000 annually, 75% or more of their income must be through agricultural operations.

Cost-share reimbursement on installed best management practices (BMPs), not a lump-sum grant. The program page states applicants "can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost or actual cost up to a cost cap for each BMP installed," and that "the applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs" — which "may include the use of existing material and labor."

The FY2027 AgWRAP Cost List sets a dollar cost-share cap for each practice and publishes both a 75 percent and a 90 percent column: "For actual cost items, the payment is based on 75 or 90 percent of actual cost, not to exceed the established cost share cap. The cost share cap listed is the maximum amount of cost share reimbursement allowed for that component/BMP." FY2027 caps (75% / 90%) include: agricultural water storage and/or collection system $30,000 / $36,000; agricultural water supply or reuse pond $43,500 / $52,200 (embankment-pond engineering $7,500 / $9,000 low hazard, $10,000 / $12,000 intermediate or high hazard); agricultural pond repair/retrofit $43,500 / $52,200; agricultural pond sediment removal $8,311 / $9,973; conservation irrigation conversion $33,492 / $40,190 plus design $5,000 / $6,000; solar-powered water pump $5,350 / $6,420; pump water supply (pump, pressure tank, power connection) $4,100 / $4,920; water supply well permit $500 / $600; livestock water storage $15,000 / $18,000.

Some components are paid at an average cost rather than a percentage of actual cost: fiberglass pump housing/site built $560 each; temporary storage tanks $1,813 (1,000 gal), $2,129 (1,500 gal), $2,675 (2,500 gal); water supply well construction/head protection $27 per linear foot (East), $30 (Central), $27 (West). Wells carry their own overall limit: "The maximum cost for a well, including all eligible components, is $25,000."

Because the caps are per practice rather than per applicant, no single per-recipient award ceiling is published. The AgWRAP pages and brochure state only the 75 percent rate and do not say who qualifies for the 90 percent rate. Funds reach farmers through local soil and water conservation districts, split between general District Allocations and a Regional Application Process.

Apply through your local soil and water conservation district. Refer to the Regional Application Process webpage and the Detailed Implementation Plan for more information regarding allocations.