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This article was originally featured in the Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) Spring 2026 Quarterly newsletter published by the Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University.
If you’re a Virginia farmer with a small cattle herd — between 20 and 49 head — there’s great news for you. The Small Herd Initiative is still available, and it’s designed to give your operation a major boost.
This program, launched by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in 2022 and administered through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, offers exclusive benefits for small cattle operations. You can receive up to 100% reimbursement, up to $50,000, for implementing best management practices that keep cattle out of streams. Small Herd Initiative funding was originally limited to the Chesapeake Bay watershed but is now available statewide.
The Small Herd Initiative funds any of the livestock stream exclusion practices available in the Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share (VACS) Program. Under the initiative, you can get funding for:
Each participant may receive Small Herd Initiative funding once, up to a maximum of $50,000. Producers must meet VACS program eligibility requirements (three or more years of at least $1,000 in agricultural income on five or more acres of land) and own a total of 20-49 bovines.
Keeping livestock out of streams isn’t just good for the environment: It benefits your animals. These practices:
When you enroll, you’ll also receive technical assistance from your local Soil and Water Conservation District to help you install and maintain these practices. This technical support is tailored specifically for smaller operations and aligns with your farm’s goals.
Don’t miss this chance to make meaningful improvements at no or very low cost. Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District today to learn more: dcr.virginia.gov/costshare.
The Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP), a part of Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University, educates and empowers small, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers to own, operate and sustain farms and ranches independently with agricultural training programs that improve farm management skills and quality of life. Reach out to the Virginia Small Farm Outreach Program directly at (804) 524-3292 or smallfarm@vsu.edu.
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