WOODSTOCK, Va. — Farmers in Warren County and throughout the Shenandoah Valley are invited to participate in a new statewide survey aimed at documenting on-farm conservation efforts that protect soil and water quality.

The Virginia Farm Voluntary Agricultural Best Management Practices Survey is being conducted by Virginia Cooperative Extension and is open through June 30, 2026. The survey targets farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region, including those in Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Frederick, and Clarke counties.

“This is about recognizing the work farmers have already done—often without government assistance—to protect natural resources,” said Robert A. Clark, Senior Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Woodstock.

The survey collects information on conservation practices such as cover cropping, no-till farming, stream exclusion fencing, nutrient management, and riparian buffer zones. Both cost-shared and non-cost-shared practices are eligible to be reported.

Organizers say the information gathered will help the state better understand the extent of voluntary conservation efforts and may inform future agricultural programs and funding priorities.

Farmers can complete the survey at:

https://vcuserl.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_enX1X0MetJJsWRE

More details are available at:

For questions or help completing the survey, farmers should contact their local extension office.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Participation in the survey is voluntary and open to all producers.