The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP) was authorized through General Statute 106-850.  The program is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts.

ACSP Brochure

ACSP Supplemental Allocations and Voluntary Returns Are Now Being Accepted

To be eligible for supplemental allocation funds, at least 75% of your district’s CS, SFR, and II allocation must be encumbered to contracts. Contracts must be submitted in CS2 (approval by the district board or division is not required to meet this percentage).

Supplemental allocation of all Impaired and Impacted Stream Initiative (IISI) funds will follow standard practice. Districts that qualify for IISI funds will receive instructions from Allie Dinwiddie via email.

You also have the option to voluntarily return any CS, SFR, and/or II funds by March 1st. Voluntarily returned funds will not affect your district’s financial assistance allocation for FY2027.

Please use the ACSP Supplemental Allocation and Voluntary Return Form to submit a return of funds and/or request additional funds.

📆 Deadline for supplemental allocation requests: March 1

💲Funds will be allocated after the Soil and Water Conservation Commission meeting on March 18

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

The North Carolina Agricultural Cost Share Program (ACSP) helps address nonpoint source pollution by providing technical and financial resources through a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands directly involved with agriculture production.

If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agricultural operation that has been operating for more than three years, you are eligible to participate in the North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program.

The North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program is successful because of the grassroots efforts of your local soil and water conservation district. Your district works with agricultural landowners and renters to: 

  • Develop and approve individual conservation plans, 
  • Identify the best management practices (BMPs) best suited for your particular operation, 
  • Design BMPs and help ensure their longevity, 
  • Acquire preliminary approval of a Cost Share contract.

The division provides administrative and technical assistance to districts. The division gives final approval to cost share contracts and processes requests for payments to farmers participating in the program.

Submit an application to your local soil and water conservation district. The applications are ranked based on resource concerns identified in the county. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor.

There are some cost share and acreage restrictions depending on the BMPs used, the type of operation involved, or policy set by the local soil and water conservation district or the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices.

Best Management Practices

CS2

Impaired & Impacted Streams Initiative

Technical Review Committee

Resources

Rules & Statutes

Commission Policies
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