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By Gerald Ochs
Rappahannock News Writer
A reformulated Rappahannock Farmers Association (RFA) held its first spring meeting at the McNear farm in Gid Brown Hollow on April 29. Thirty members and prospective members socialized, were treated to refreshments, and • were informed about a number of issues germane to farms and farming in the County.
It appears as though the “new” RFA will focus more upon fulfilling member needs and less upon Board activities—the organization has planned quarterly meetings at members’ farms for the full membership, and the meetings will generally involve discussions and dissemination of information of interest to farmers and prospective farmers. ! At the first meeting in ;this format, RFA President ■ Dick McNear spoke about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) of which he, Cliff ' Miller, and others in the . County have taken advantage. This Federal/State program provides funding for creation of riparian buffers to improve wildlife and water quality, and to minimize erosion, Mr. McNear said.
Virginia has $90 million to spend on the program, and ; that amount is expected to last up to two years.
The program reimburses farmers for expenses • incurred in establishing , buffers that will protect streams, and requires a . buffer of from 35 to 300 feet ”from the stream bank. The ♦-Federal and State govern‘ ments will reimburse 75 percent of the buffer cost, and ;! the 25 percent balance will be ^reimbursed by Ducks • tjnlimited and the • Chesapeake Bay Foundation I if the buffer width averages ;; 100 feet or more. • Mr. McNear noted that • landowners can sign-up for i 10 or 15 years, and that there is a sign-up bonus of 10 per. cent. In addition, he said, 1 landowners will receive a • lump sum payment for every , acre within the buffer—Mr. ' McNear’s payment will amount to $75 per acre plus $5 per acre additional for maintenance.
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