RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says Chesapeake Bay restoration projects will receive more than $18 million in funding.
The grant funding was announced Wednesday by Virginia's U.S. senators, Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
The funding is through the USDA regional conservation partnership program.
The largest grant involves $7 million to reward agricultural producers who implement conservation practices to limit farm runoff from dairy and livestock operations. The grant also involves West Virginia producers.
Other funding will support conservation efforts in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Six states and the District of Columbia are part of the federally directed cleanup effort.
The Chesapeake Bay grants are part of $370 million in competitive grants nationwide announced by Vilsack.
