Maryland's Healthy Soils Program

The Healthy Soils Program supports Maryland farmers who want to improve soil health by minimizing disturbance, maximizing biodiversity, and maintaining continuous soil cover and living roots. It offers grants and technical support to help farmers adopt innovative conservation practices, promote responsible management of soil and water resources, and foster the development of soil health knowledge within the agricultural community. Grant programs include the Healthy Soils Competitive Fund, which provides up to $50,000 for soil health and agroforestry practices over 3 years (applications open November 2026), and Cover Crop Plus+ Grants, which provide up to $100/acre for innovative cover cropping. Funding support is made possible through the Moore-Miller Administration's implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act and a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant awarded to the Atlantic Conservation Coalition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Maryland farmers adopting soil health and conservation practices. Specific eligibility applies to each grant track (see the Healthy Soils Competitive Fund and Cover Crop Plus+ program pages). Cover Crop Plus+ requires enrollment of 10 to 500 acres and good standing with MDA nutrient management and conservation grant programs.

The Healthy Soils Program is an umbrella with two grant tracks, each with its own money terms.

Healthy Soils Competitive Fund — a per-recipient award. "This competitive grant program awards selected applicants with up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health practices. Grant recipients will receive a portion of the funds (not to exceed 30%) upfront, with the re[mainder] distributed annually following verification of progress." Funds "may be used to support the implementation of conservation practices, including the purchase of equipment, to cover project staff time, and to cover research costs," and "[a]pplicants are encouraged to rent equipment or purchase used equipment where possible." No match or cost-share percentage is published. "There are no minimum or maximum acreage requirements," but the operation "must have a gross annual income of $2,500 or more (or $2,500 or more of donated agricultural products if a non-profit entity) and/or manage 8 or more animal units (8,000 pounds of live animal weight)." Applications open November 2026.

Cover Crop Plus+ — a per-acre rate, not a lump sum, on a 3-year contract for the same field(s). Published rate chart: Base $40.00/acre, plus $15.00/acre each for the Diversity Bonus, Summer Bonus, Biomass Bonus and Nitrogen Reduction Bonus, to a "Maximum: $100.00" per acre. Bonus conditions: Diversity — three or more species from three or more functional groups; Summer — planted after a small grain or after a fall/winter cover crop for field rest; Nitrogen Reduction — "documentation showing at least a 15% reduction in commercial fertilizer application from the prior year's baseline"; Biomass — "[d]elay termination until a minimum biomass yield of 2,000 pounds per acre dry matter is documented." "You may enroll 10 to 500 acres in this program." Plant no later than November 5 and terminate no earlier than April 15 unless an approved Technical Service Provider scenario applies. "Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis." The 2026-2027 application window is now closed.

Apply through the individual grant programs. The Healthy Soils Competitive Fund opens applications in November 2026; Cover Crop Plus+ has its own application window. Contact Nick Miller, Healthy Soils Program Specialist, at nicholas.miller2@maryland.gov, (410) 841-5866 (office) or (410) 980-2350 (mobile), Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.