Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP)

The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP), authorized through General Statute 106-850, helps address nonpoint source pollution by providing technical and financial resources through a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands directly involved with agricultural production. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs (which may include existing material and labor). Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices.

Landowners or renters operating a Bonafide Farm for more than three years are eligible to participate.

Cost share, not a fixed award. The program page states: "Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor." Reimbursement is calculated against a preestablished average cost for the practice, not against your actual invoices.

Enhanced rates and maintenance-period tradeoff (FY27 Detailed Implementation Plan). For Critical Area Planting, Cropland Conversion to Grass/Wildlife Plantings, Field Border and Filter Strip: "Participants may elect a ten-year maintenance period at the existing ACSP cost share rates of 75% standard and 90% enhanced (beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, or a farm enrolled in an enhanced voluntary agricultural district) or a five-year maintenance period at cost share rates of 60% standard and 75% enhanced." A BMP enrolled under the five-year option is not eligible for reimplementation for ten years from the implementation date.

Incentive payments. "Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices."

Caps. No per-applicant dollar ceiling is published. "There are some cost share and acreage restrictions depending on the BMPs used, the type of operation involved, or policy set by the local soil and water conservation district or the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission," and district boards may decide which BMPs they will offer at all. Each BMP also carries a minimum life-expectancy requirement.

Program funds are a recurring state appropriation of $4,016,998 for BMP allocation (plus $2,448,778 for technical assistance) distributed to districts — that is the statewide pool, not an award size.

Submit an application to your local soil and water conservation district. Applications are ranked based on resource concerns identified in the county. Some cost share and acreage restrictions may apply depending on the BMPs used, the type of operation, or policy set by the local district or the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission.