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A small stream running through a field with a fence on either side and a hardwood tree in the foreground.

Land Management Practices

Whether growing crops, raising livestock or poultry, managing forests, or conducting any other land-based business, there are practices that farmers and landowners can adopt to benefit their farm, their business, their community and their ecosystem. Broadly, these practices are known as ‘best management practices.’ Many best management practices can make farms more efficient, build soil, retain nutrients, conserve water, improve and protect water quality, and even increase farm productivity.

Our local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), regional Natural Resources Conservation Service Centers (NRCS), and nonprofit partners have programs available to provide assistance to implement of a variety of best management practices that cover the full spectrum of agricultural operations.

Common BMPs

A winter field planted in green cover crop under a blue sky with leafless trees in the background all overlayed with the words 'cover crops'.
Cover Crop Fact Sheet
A small stream running through a field with a fence on either side and a hardwood tree in the foreground all overlayed with the words 'stream exclusion'.
Stream Exclusion Fact Sheet
A pasture field with dense and lush green grasses all overlayed with the words 'cropland conversion'.
Cropland Conversion Fact Sheet
A large empty, three-sided structure with a roof and a floor and open front meant for animal waste storage all overlayed with the words 'manure management'.
Manure Management Fact Sheet
A very small stream bordered by freshly planted trees in plastic sheaths all overlayed with the words 'tree planting'.
Tree Planting Fact Sheet

Technical Assistance and Funding

Funding and technical assistance is available from state Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and various nonprofit partners, all described below. Often, the SWCD, NRCS, and nonprofits work together to find the combination of options that work best for each landowner and their farm.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts offer assistance for more than 70 best management practices. For more information about the assistance available check out this 2-page info sheet.

If you are interested in implementing one of these or other conservation practices on your farm or even in your residential backyard, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District to learn more and apply:

Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District

Clark | Frederick | Warren | Shenandoah | City of Winchester

722 E Queen Street
Strasburg, VA 22657
540-465-2424 ext. 5
www.lfswcd.org

Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District

Rockingham | Page | City of Harrisonburg

1934 Deyerle Avenue, Suite B
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-534-3105
www.svswcd.org

Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District

Augusta | City of Staunton | City of Waynesboro

70 Dick Huff Lane
Verona, VA 24482
540-248-0148
www.headwatersswcd.org

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with service centers that provide local, on the ground support to farmers and landowners. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, they offer both funding and technical support for farmers to adopt best management practices. If you’d like to explore the options offered by your local NRCS center, reach to the one nearest you:

Strasburg Service Center

Frederick | Shenandoah | Warren

722 East Queen Street
Strasburg, VA 22657
540-465-2424
nrcs.usda.gov

Harrisonburg Service Center

Rockingham | Page

1934 Deyerle Ave, Suite C
Harrisonburg, VA 22801-3484
540-534-3105
nrcs.usda.gov

Verona Service Center

Augusta

70 Dick Huff Ln
Verona, VA 24482
540-248-6218
nrcs.usda.gov

Nonprofit Partners

There are several nonprofit organizations that also assist landowners and farmers to implement best management practices, usually with a particular focus on soil health, water quality, habitat, or community improvement.

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

804-775-0951
www.allianceforthebay.org

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

804-780-1392
www.cbf.org

Trout
Unlimited

seth.coffman@tu.org
www.tu.org

Virginia Working Landscapes

540-635-0035
www.vaworkinglandscapes.org

Conservation Landowner Profiles

Fall view from Route 340 with a golden field in the foreground and mountains in the background under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.

Transportation Planning & Land Conservation go Hand-in-Hand

A farmer stands in front of a solar array in a green pasture with a cow peeking out from behind the panels.

Solar part of farm lifestyle for Liskey family

About 25 people are standing in a field in the afternoon sun listening to someone talk about framing practices.

A happy farm and a healthy watershed in Page County

Robert Hupman is showing Taylor Evans from Valley Conservation Council the resources they're protecting together which include lush green fields and wooded areas.

Catching the Land Protection Bug

This summer, more than 60 area producers joined Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative (SVCC) partners to tour two local farms.

Summer 2021 Pasture Walks

Browntown residents learned how land protection is a great tool to protect family farms and improve water quality. 

Browntown Community Members Learn About Conservation Easements

Current Projects

Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative
A small creek winds through a bank with lush plants, white and purple flowers alongside a field.
Smith Creek Showcase Watershed

Recent News

Join us for “Surf and Turf”
May 02 2025

From the Shenandoah Valley to the wide-open expanse of the Chesapeake Bay, this film shows us how two different worlds can unite for a shared cause.

Conservation ‘Speed-Dating’
Apr 09 2025

Along with partners in the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative, we’ve been exploring a new way to connect landowners with technical expertise and funding for all kinds of conservation actions.

NEW Shenandoah Valley Conservation Fellowship
Feb 19 2025

We're excited to introduce an opportunity to cultivate young conservationists in the Shenandoah Valley—a new Conservation Fellowship.

All Land Management Practices News
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Get In Touch

  • Kate Wofford, Executive Director
  • Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
  • 9485 S Congress St • PO Box 674 • New Market, VA 22844
  • (540) 908-3914
  • info@shenandoahalliance.org

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