                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD PROGRAM (§ 10.1-104.3)

The Director shall establish the Clean Water Farm Award Program to recognize
farms in the Commonwealth which utilize practices designed to protect water
quality and soil resources. A farm shall be eligible for recognition upon
application from the farmer or the local soil and water conservation district,
if the district concurs that the farmer is implementing conservation practices
that effectively address agricultural nonpoint source pollutants. Such practices
may include vegetative riparian buffers, cover crops, conservation tillage,
livestock exclusion from waterways, and nutrient management plans. The Director
may establish guidelines for limiting the quantity of annual recipients,
receiving and ranking applications, ensuring geographical representation of
awards from the major watersheds of the Commonwealth including the Chesapeake
Bay watershed, providing local farm recognition through the local soil and water
conservation districts, and providing special statewide recognition to select
farms. Recognition under this program shall not be a requirement under any other
state program.

HISTORY: 1998, c. 93; 2009, c. 349.