Farmstead Best Management Practices Program (BMP)

The Agricultural Engineering Section assist farmers with on-farm improvements designed to abate non-point source agricultural waste discharges into the waters of the state of Vermont. It is our mission to assist Vermont farmers to achieve and maintain regulatory compliance in a way that is viable for the operation of the farm and of benefit to water quality by providing technical assistance, project management and financial assistance. The section administers three programs to assist farmers:

1. The EQIP-Assist Program is an opportunity for farmers with NRCS EQIP contracts to receive additional cost share on the practices installed as part of the EQIP contract.

2. The Technical Assistance Program is available to provide water quality compliance consultations, state permitting assistance or variance assistance.

3. The Farmstead Best Management Practices (BMP) Program provides engineering services on a priority basis for the design of BMPs at no cost to the farmer and can cost share on the construction of eligible practices.

The Agricultural Engineering Section provides Technical and Financial Assistance (TA & FA) pursuant to 6 V.S.A. §§ 4820 -4826. Farms required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices are eligible to apply. Applications are evaluated according to the funding priorities established in statute and receive priority based on a priority ranking and risk assessment. Funding is available according to the cost share policy.

Examples of conservation practices eligible for cost share through the Farmstead BMP Program

• Manure storage

• Composting stack pad

• Barnyard runoff collection

• Gutter / ditch clean water diversion

• Laneway development & stream crossings

• Exclusion fencing & watering facilities

• Milk house waste collection & treatment

• Silage leachate collection

Engineering design is free; construction is cost-shared, and the cap depends on whether your project rides along with an NRCS EQIP contract.

Cost-share rate

• Statutory ceiling: "By statute the Agency cannot exceed 90% cost-share on any agricultural water quality BMP and shall make maximum use of federal financial aid for the same purpose."

• Production-area practices: "Combined state and federal cost-share rates for production area practices aiming to address water quality pollution goals shall not exceed 90% on BMP practices."

• Livestock exclusion: not to exceed 90% "for fencing, stream crossings, watering facilities, and other directly associated practices with livestock exclusion." This rate does not apply to pasture fencing that is not excluding livestock from surface water.

• Other non-production-area practices, including remote waste storage: not to exceed 90%, and "the maximum cost-share rate shall only apply when the site is the best available site on the farm for the purposes of protecting ground water and surface water quality."

Dollar limits — state-only projects (no matching federal contract)

• "State-only cost-share funding shall not exceed $100,000 per calendar year (January to December)."

• "State-only cost-share funding cannot collectively exceed $200,000 within three calendar years."

Dollar limits — EQIP-Assist (your project is in an NRCS EQIP contract)

• "State cost-share funding associated with a federal agreement shall not exceed a total of $200,000 on practices included in the federal agreement."

• "State cost-share funding associated with a federal agreement shall not exceed the sum of the federal contribution on state BMP eligible practices" — the state will not out-contribute NRCS.

• Combined lifetime: state-associated plus state-only "cannot collectively exceed $400,000 within five calendar years."

Also worth knowing

• Design comes at no charge: the Farmstead BMP Program "provides engineering services on a priority basis for the design of BMPs at no cost to the farmer and can cost share on the construction of eligible practices." All designs must meet NRCS or equivalent standards.

• Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, ranked by a priority and risk assessment, with an annual May 1 priority deadline.

• The Secretary may exceed these limits case by case with written justification, but only for "emergency, unforeseen or extenuating situations, and in no case shall the policy be exceeded for a standard project."

No single award ceiling is stored because the applicable cap differs by funding path ($100k/year state-only vs. $200k with a federal agreement).

1. Apply for EQIP-Assist when the farmer has ranked out for an EQIP Contract.

2. Apply for Technical Assistance as soon as a water quality concern is identified or a need for permitting or variance assistance arises.

3. Apply to the Farmstead Best Management Practices (BMP) Program annually by April 1st for design services and funding of conservation practice.

All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications for the Farmstead BMP Program received after April 1st will be rolled into the next year's applicant pool.

Prior to applying please read the important information below:

• BMP projects are only eligible for State cost share dollars if the they meet the design standards and specifications established by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or are designed and certified by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Vermont and are equivalent to the federal performance standards and specifications.

• Applying does not ensure an award.

• Grant agreements must be in place prior to the start of construction.

• Farmer is responsible for financing the project during construction and receives reimbursement upon certified project completion.

• Final cost share payment is determined by actual project costs as documented by itemized invoices.

• Farmer’s equipment and labor costs are eligible for reimbursement.

Online Application

• Download Program Factsheet

• BMP Construction Log Booklet

• NRCS VAAFM Release Form

• BMP Planning Checklist

• BMP Pre-Construction Form