NC Agriculture Cost Share Program

Non-Point Source Pollution 

A major cause of water quality problems in North Carolina and in the U.S. is nonpoint source pollution. In many places across our state, damage to our water resources comes from soil erosion, excessive fertilizer use, animal waste contamination, and improper use of agricultural chemicals.

The North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program was established in 1984 to help reduce the sources of agricultural non-point pollution to NC. waters. This program helps landowners or renters of existing agricultural operations improve their on-farm management by using Best Management Practices, also called BMP's. These BMP's or management systems can make farmers more productive while reducing the potential for polluting surface and groundwater.

The great part about the Cost Share Program is that participants can be reimbursed up to 75% of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. 25% of the costs are the responsibility of the farmer. The farmer's costs may include the use of existing material and labor.

BMPs 

The following BMPs have been approved for the program.

• Animal waste management systems
• Stabilizing stream banks
• Facilities to handle agricultural chemicals
• Stream crossings
• Planting of critical areas
• Strip cropping
• Field borders
• Water control structures
• Grade-control structures
• Stock trails and heavy use areas
• Grassed Waterways
• Sod-based rotation
• Fencing livestock out of streams
• Sediment control structures
• No-till cropping systems
• Nutrient management
• Poultry Incinerator
• Poultry Litter Storage Structure