RD3 - Seventh Annual Summary of the Clean Water Farm Award Program Recipients


Executive Summary:
It is my distinct honor to present to you the Seventh Annual Summary of Clean Water Farm Award Program Recipients. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is delighted to be the lead agency for this exciting program that provides an excellent avenue for recognition of farms which utilize practices designed to protect water quality and soil resources.

While DCR has issued awards of this nature since 1986, legislation passed by the General Assembly in 1998 allowed a new program emphasis and enabled us to better promote the program across the Commonwealth. However, while this is program is authorized by Virginia law, funding appropriated annually by the Commonwealth to support its implementation has been eliminated. For the 2003 and 2004 program years DCR streamlined essential program costs and has covered those expenses from other financial resources.

Working closely with 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, DCR has assisted farmers for the past fifteen years with education, technical assistance and incentive programs for nutrient reduction and water quality improvement. The "Clean Water Farm Awards" and the "Bay Friendly Farm Awards" allow us to further the Commonwealth’s water quality goals by recognizing farmers actively engaged in nutrient management practices and other important practices that control agricultural nonpoint source pollution.

This report details the management of the "Clean Water Farm Awards" program and provides a listing of the 2004 recipients. Ten special river basin winners will be announced in December 2004, and these farmers are to be recognized at area Soil and Water District events throughout the Spring 2005.

Thank you for the opportunity to bring these deserving farmers to your attention.

Sincerely,

/s/ Joseph H. Maroon

Director