RICHMOND, Va. — Farmers across Virginia will soon have new resources to adopt environmentally friendly and cost-effective agricultural practices, thanks to a nearly $1 million grant awarded to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The funding comes through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Small Watershed Grants Program, with major support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the grant will help farmers implement regenerative agriculture and conservation practices designed to boost profitability, improve land resilience, and reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
Supported practices include rotational grazing, planting streamside grass and forest buffers, converting row crops into pastureland, and using virtual fence collars for livestock. These collars allow farmers to set grazing boundaries through a smartphone app, reducing the need for traditional fencing and making rotational grazing more accessible.
“This grant will fund conservation solutions that can make farmers’ land more profitable, more resilient, and more Bay-friendly,” said Matt Kowalski, Virginia watershed restoration scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The foundation is partnering with the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council to expand outreach and education. Together, they plan to provide grazing plans, instructional materials, and hands-on training opportunities to farmers across the region.
As part of the initiative, a grazing school will be held May 12–13 in Madison County, offering in-person instruction on sustainable livestock management techniques.
Officials say the program will also extend beyond Virginia, supporting conservation efforts across nearly 1,700 acres in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
“Whether you’re a soybean farmer in the Shenandoah Valley or managing livestock in Loudoun County, CBF and partners stand ready to help farmers develop sustainable practices that will benefit residents throughout the Commonwealth and beyond,” Kowalski said.
More information about the grazing school is available through the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council.
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