The Wake Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Conservation Partners Program grant in 2020 to promote cover crop adoption in Wake County. This grant provides financial and technical field assistance to farmers, training on the benefits of cover crops and encourages long term adoption of BMPs that improve soil health and water quality in Wake County. The program runs from February 2020 to December 2022.
What are the benefits of cover crops?
- Improve soil health and quality
- Reduce runoff and prevent erosion
- Reduce weeds and pests
- Protect watersheds
- Provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators
Who can apply to the cover crop program?
To qualify for grant funds, land must be at least 10 acres of cropland that is actively farmed in Wake County. Preference will be given to land in priority watersheds with the highest potential to reduce soil and nutrient loss.
For the 2021 program year, applications are being accepted on a rolling basis with a fall priority deadline of August 15 for cool season cover crops.
Pasture applications are not currently being accepted at this time.
For additional information, you can review the Full Cover Crop Grant Policy.
Please let us know if you have any questions not addressed in the program presentation by contacting us at 919-250-1051 or swcd@wake.gov. We thank you for considering participation in this special program and we hope to hear from you soon.