Agricultural Stewardship

The Agricultural Stewardship Program works with farmers and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to resolve water quality problems reported to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) concerning nutrients, sediment and toxins from agricultural activities.

Why is this Program Important?

Virginia’s agricultural community promotes stewardship of our land and water resources. As a show of commitment to this concept, agricultural leaders supported the passage of the Agricultural Stewardship Act (ASA) in 1996. The ASA program gives the farmer an opportunity to correct a water quality problem voluntarily before any enforcement action is taken. The ASA can also be an opportunity to educate all parties involved regarding best management practices and agriculture.

How is the Program Structured?

The Agricultural Stewardship Program is administered by VDACS’ Commissioner's Office, which receives all complaints. If a complaint is under the jurisdiction of the ASA, the local Soil and Water Conservation District is notified and given the opportunity to investigate, assist VDACS with the investigation or defer to VDACS to perform the investigation. After a complaint is investigated, the Commissioner's Office reviews the findings and determines if the complaint is founded and requires further action under the ASA. If so, the farmer is required to develop a plan to correct the problem and complete plan implementation within 18 months. The Commissioner's Office contacts complainants to inform them of the findings.

What’s Not Covered?

The Agricultural Stewardship Program does not cover agricultural activities subject to water quality permits from the Department of Environmental Quality, forestry activities, air pollution, odor concerns or water quality problems that do not involve an agricultural activity.

What Are Examples Of Water Quality Problems?

Water quality problems may be caused by nutrients from manure in feed lot runoff, sediment from erosion on crop fields, toxins from pesticide runoff, etc.

More Information

Contact
For questions regarding the Agricultural Stewardship Act Program or to file a complaint, please contact your regional coordinator.

Map of Va.

VALLEY/NORTHERN REGION:	SOUTHWEST REGION:	CENTRAL/EASTERN REGION:
Tim Higgs	Joseph Maloskey	Darrell Marshall
Agricultural Stewardship Program Coordinator 261 Mount Clinton Pike Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Mobile: 804.837.9312 Fax: 804.371.7679 tim.higgs@vdacs.virginia.gov SWCD/Localities: Natural Bridge - Rockbridge, (Buena Vista, Lexington) Headwaters - Augusta, (Staunton, Waynesboro) Shenandoah Valley - Rockingham, Page (Harrisonburg)	Agricultural Stewardship Program Coordinator 250 Cassell Road Wytheville, VA 24382 Mobile: 804.837.9311 Fax: 804.371.7679 joseph.maloskey@vdacs.virginia.gov SWCD/Localities: Daniel Boone - Lee Scott County - Scott Lonesome Pine - Wise, Dickenson Big Sandy - Buchanan Clinch Valley - Russell Holston River - Washington Evergreen - Smyth Tazewell - Tazewell New River - Grayson, Carroll, (Galax) Skyline - Montgomery, Giles, Pulaski, Floyd Big Walker - Bland, Wythe Blue Ridge - Roanoke, Franklin, Henry, (City of Roanoke) Patrick - Patrick Peaks of Otter - Bedford	Agricultural Stewardship Program Manager P.O. Box 1163 Richmond, VA 23218 Office: 804.786.2658 Mobile: 804.382.0904 Fax: 804.371.7679 darrell.marshall@vdacs.virginia.gov SWCD/Localities: Thomas Jefferson - Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Louisa, (Charlottesville) Hanover-Caroline - Hanover, Caroline Northern Neck - Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland, Lancaster Three Rivers - Essex, King & Queen, King William Tidewater - Middlesex, Matthews, Gloucester Eastern Shore - Northampton, Accomack Virginia Dare - Chesapeake, Virginia Beach Peanut - Surry, Isle of Wight, Suffolk, (City of Suffolk) Chowan Basin - Sussex, Southampton, Greensville Appomattox River - Dinwiddie, (Petersburg) James River - Prince George, Chesterfield Colonial - New Kent, James City, Charles City, York, (Williamsburg) Henricopolis - Henrico Monacan - Powhatan, Goochland Piedmont - Amelia, Nottoway, Prince Edward Peter Francisco - Buckingham, Cumberland Robert E. Lee - Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell, (Lynchburg) Pittsylvania - Pittsylvania Halifax - Halifax Southside - Charlotte, Lunenburg Lake Country - Mecklenburg, Brunswick
Timothy Abbott
Agricultural Stewardship Program Coordinator 261 Mount Clinton Pike Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Mobile: 804.718.8232 Fax: 804.371.7679 timothy.abbott@vdacs.virginia.gov SWCD/Localities: Mountain Castles - Craig, Botetourt Mountain - Alleghany, Highland, Bath Lord Fairfax - Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick, Clarke, (Winchester) Loudoun - Loudoun Northern VA - Fairfax Prince William - Prince William John Marshall - Fauquier Culpeper - Greene, Madison, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Orange Tri-County/City - Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, (Fredericksburg

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