Ecosystem Incentives Program — Maryland

A Maryland Department of Agriculture pilot conservation-incentive program (complementing the federal-state CREP) that gives farmers and landowners a menu of incentive payments to plant streamside buffers and trees to improve local water quality. Provides a one-time bonus of $1,000/acre to install forest buffers (like CREP) plus features CREP does not offer: a buffer option for field ditches, flexible site management, and shorter contract terms. Eligible farmers also receive $2 for each new tree planted as part of an approved conservation practice, in addition to the regular cost-share rate, for: Windbreak Establishment ($2/tree plus up to 100% cost-share), Silvopasture ($2/tree plus up to 87.5% cost-share), Riparian Forest Buffer ($2/tree plus up to 100% cost-share), Hedgerow Planting ($2/tree plus up to 100% cost-share), and Tree and Shrub Establishment ($2/tree plus up to 100% cost-share). (Per-acre and per-tree rates and cost-share percentages stated here; no fixed per-recipient dollar cap.)

Maryland farmers and landowners installing qualifying conservation practices (streamside/forest buffers, windbreaks, silvopasture, hedgerows, tree/shrub establishment). Contact your local soil conservation district to determine eligibility and get free technical help.

A menu of incentives quoted as per-acre and per-tree rates plus cost-share percentages. No fixed per-recipient dollar cap is published, and terms differ by offering.

Conservation Buffer Initiative — "Like CREP, farmers receive a one-time bonus payment of $1,000/acre to install forest buffers." This pilot adds features CREP lacks: a buffer option for field ditches, flexible site management, and shorter contract terms.

Tree Planting Incentives — "eligible farmers will receive $2 for each new tree planted as part of an approved conservation practice," and "This payment is in addition to the regular cost-share rate for the qualifying practice." Qualifying practices and their cost-share ceilings: Windbreak Establishment — $2 per tree plus up to 100% cost-share; Silvopasture — $2 per tree plus up to 87.5% cost-share; Riparian Forest Buffer — $2 per tree plus up to 100% cost-share; Hedgerow Planting — $2 per tree plus up to 100% cost-share; Tree and Shrub Establishment — $2 per tree plus up to 100% cost-share. The tree bonus applies to practices financed through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program.

CREP Signing Bonus — "Newly enrolled farmers and landowners who plant riparian forest buffers receive a one-time signing bonus of up to $1,000 per acre," paid on top of the annual rental payments, in exchange for taking environmentally sensitive land out of production "for 10 to 15 years."

Cover Crop Plus — "pays higher incentives for enhanced cover crop implementation"; the rate is not stated on this page. Its commitment is spelled out: "Enrolled farmers agree to grow cover crop mixes on the same field for three consecutive years, maintain a living root system, and manage the cover crop for maximum benefits."

Conservation Equipment Tax Break — a Maryland income tax subtraction modification that "allows farmers to subtract eligible equipment purchases from taxable income on Maryland individual and corporate tax returns"; no percentage or cap is published here.

Because contract length varies by offering (three consecutive years for Cover Crop Plus, 10 to 15 years for CREP, "shorter contract terms" for the buffer pilot), no single term applies. Enrollment is through your local soil conservation district, which provides free technical help.

Ongoing/continuous enrollment. Farmers see something they want and contact their local soil conservation district for free assistance in meeting their conservation needs; the $2-per-tree incentive is paid on top of the regular cost-share rate for the qualifying practice.