Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Maryland Department of Agriculture

Annual fiscal-year cycle. FY2026 window is now closed: Letter of Intent was due October 17, 2025; high-ranking applicants were invited to submit a full grant proposal due December 23, 2025, reviewed by MDA with the Animal Waste Technology Evaluation Committee. Watch for the next (FY2027) round; submit a Letter of Intent per the Grant Project Request when reopened.

Alisha Mulkey

Program Manager

Maryland's Animal Waste Technology&#x2004;Fund (AWTF), administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, provides grants to individuals, vendors, and businesses to demonstrate proven, innovative technologies for managing animal waste from Maryland livestock (e.g., dairy wastewater, poultry processing waste, livestock carcasses). Eligible technologies may reduce nutrient levels, change the waste's form or function for other uses, or generate energy and marketable products; alternative product development and manure-to-energy projects are supported. Research-and-development-stage projects are ineligible. Established 2013. Approximately $750,000 was available in FY2026.



Maryland's Animal Waste Technology Fund (AWTF), administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, provides grants to individuals, vendors, and businesses to demonstrate proven, innovative technologies for managing animal waste from Maryland livestock (e.g., dairy wastewater, poultry processing waste, livestock carcasses). Eligible technologies may reduce nutrient levels, change the waste's form or function for other uses, or generate energy and marketable products; alternative product development and manure-to-energy projects are supported. Research-and-development-stage projects are ineligible. Established 2013. Approximately $750,000 was available in FY2026.

Individuals, vendors, and businesses. Projects should demonstrate potential to enhance public health and environmental well-being, offer alternative waste-management solutions for agriculture, and have positive economic-development impact in Maryland. Additional consideration for projects addressing climate and community benefits. R&D-stage projects are not eligible.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Biofuel

Hydro Power

Solar Power

Wind Energy

Fertilizer

Waste & Manure Management

Weeds

Waste & Compost

Nutrient Management

No per-recipient award ceiling, cost-share percentage, or match requirement is published on the program page. What MDA publishes is the pool: "Maryland's Animal Waste Technology Fund has approximately $750,000 available to invest in innovative technologies during the Fiscal Year 2026, which ends June 30, 2026." Funding support comes from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.

Awards are sized project by project through a two-stage competition — a Letter of Intent, then an invited full proposal, "reviewed and ranked by the department in consultation with the Animal Waste Technology Evaluation Committee." Individual grants have been large relative to the annual pool: MDA announced "a $505,744 Animal Waste Technology Grant to South Mountain Creamery in Frederick County" in 2024, and the program page links a 2023 release headlined "Department Awards $1.5 Million Animal Waste Technology Grant to Cecil County Dairy Farm." Treat those as precedents, not caps.

The fund is seed money for demonstrating proven technology on farms, so "projects in the research and development stage are ineligible for this grant." No match is required by the published terms, though recipients have stacked other funding on top (South Mountain Creamery added roughly $200,000 from the Conservation Innovation Fund and $350,000 from Nutrient Control Systems). Per-recipient limits, if any, would be set in the Grant Project Request issued each cycle — that document is not posted now that the FY2026 window has closed.

Apply for the Conservation Buffer Initiative and MACS-funded tree-planting practices by contacting your local soil conservation district. The 2026-2027 Conservation Buffer Initiative enrollment window opens November 1, 2026 and runs through April 30, 2027; applications are accepted on a first come, first-served basis. For CREP, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office. Program information: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Office of Resource Conservation, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Jason D. Keppler

MDA's tree-planting incentives support a range of agroforestry practices that integrate farming and forestry to generate additional farm income, create healthier conditions for livestock and crops, and promote cleaner air and streams. The Conservation Buffer Initiative offers farmers up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing, plus a one-time bonus payment of $1,000/acre for riparian forest buffers, during its annual open enrollment period (November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026). Additional&#x2004;practices funded through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program include riparian forest buffers, hedgerow planting, tree & shrub establishment, and windbreak establishment (up to 100% cost-share plus $2 per planted tree) and silvopasture (up to 87.5% cost-share plus $2 per planted tree). Maryland's CREP pays land rental rates and a one-time $1,000/acre bonus for new streamside riparian forest buffers. The Healthy Soils Competitive Fund provides up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health and agroforestry practices, with an open enrollment period that typically begins in January and runs for approximately 8 weeks.



MDA's tree-planting incentives support a range of agroforestry practices that integrate farming and forestry to generate additional farm income, create healthier conditions for livestock and crops, and promote cleaner air and streams. The Conservation Buffer Initiative offers farmers up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing, plus a one-time bonus payment of $1,000/acre for riparian forest buffers, during its annual open enrollment period (November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026). Additional practices funded through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program include riparian forest buffers, hedgerow planting, tree & shrub establishment, and windbreak establishment (up to 100% cost-share plus $2 per planted tree) and silvopasture (up to 87.5% cost-share plus $2 per planted tree). Maryland's CREP pays land rental rates and a one-time $1,000/acre bonus for new streamside riparian forest buffers. The Healthy Soils Competitive Fund provides up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health and agroforestry practices, with an open enrollment period that typically begins in January and runs for approximately 8 weeks.

Maryland farmers and landowners installing eligible agroforestry/tree-planting practices. MACS-funded practices follow MACS eligibility and are applied for through the local soil conservation district. The Conservation Buffer Initiative is available during annual open enrollment (November 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027). CREP is applied for through USDA FSA. Tree & shrub establishment may be applied on any site capable of growing woody plants, including land in USDA and other federal, state, and private conservation programs.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Forest Management

Disaster Relief

Water Management

Emergency

These are per-acre and per-tree rates, not fixed awards — except the Healthy Soils Competitive Fund, noted last. This page bundles several separate incentives:

Conservation Buffer Initiative — "Farmers can receive up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing." Riparian forest buffers "also qualify for a one-time BONUS PAYMENT of $1,000/acre." Apply through your soil conservation district during annual open enrollment (November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027). Payment rates range from $500/acre for an existing grass buffer up to $4,500/acre; farmers receive 75% of the project cost up front and 25% after verification of planting, plus up to $330/acre/year for the first 5 years to help maintain the buffer. Contracts run 5 or 10 years.

CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) — pays "attractive land rental rates to remove environmentally sensitive agricultural land out of production for 10-15 years and install conservation practices." Farmers who plant new streamside riparian forest buffers "qualify for a one-time BONUS PAYMENT of $1,000/acre." The rental rate itself is not published here. Apply through your local USDA Farm Service Agency office.

Practices funded through MACS (apply through your soil conservation district):
- Riparian forest buffer — up to 100% cost-share, including $2 for each tree planted.
- Hedgerow planting — "up to 100% cost-share to plant the hedgerow and an additional $2 per planted tree."
- Tree & shrub establishment — up to 100% cost-share plus $2 per planted tree. Can be applied on any site capable of growing woody plants, including land already in USDA, other federal, state and private conservation programs.
- Windbreak establishment — up to 100% cost-share and $2 per planted tree.
- Silvopasture — "MACS pays up to 87.5% cost-share to install this practice plus $2 per planted tree."

MACS-funded practices also carry MACS's own dollar caps and 5–15 year maintenance obligations — see the MACS program record.

Healthy Soils Competitive Fund — the one fixed-dollar award in the bundle: "This competitive grant program awards selected applicants with up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health practices." Open enrollment typically begins in January and runs about 8 weeks. Alley cropping and critical area plantings are cited as popular tree-planting fits.

The 2026-2027 application window is now closed. Submit a signed application with a 3-year management plan (at least 2 of the 3 years require scenarios not supported by other MDA cover crop programs), field maps, a grazing plan (if grazing), and a letter of support (if working with a Technical Service Provider) to Nick Miller, Healthy Soils Program Administrator, at nicholas.miller2@maryland.gov or by mail to Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401. An online application form is available via the program page.

Nick Miller

Healthy Soils Program Administrator

The Cover Crop Plus+ grant program, run by MDA's Healthy Soils Program, provides additional support for Maryland's innovative cover crop practitioners with a more flexible, streamlined program for effective cover crop strategies not covered by existing programs. Participants sign a contract to grow cover crops on the same field(s) for 3 consecutive years using practices not supported by MDA's Traditional Cover Crop Program or the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program. Funded&#x2004;practices include summer cover crops, cover crop mixes with less than 50% grass, legumes for crop nitrogen, cover crops planted into standing crops before August 1, interseeding into wide crop rows, early termination of grasses in a legume mix, and cover crops for grazing animals. The base payment is $40/acre, with add-on bonuses of $15/acre each for Diversity, Summer, Biomass, and Nitrogen Reduction, up to a maximum of $100/acre. Applications are approved on a first come, first served basis. The program is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.



The Cover Crop Plus+ grant program, run by MDA's Healthy Soils Program, provides additional support for Maryland's innovative cover crop practitioners with a more flexible, streamlined program for effective cover crop strategies not covered by existing programs. Participants sign a contract to grow cover crops on the same field(s) for 3 consecutive years using practices not supported by MDA's Traditional Cover Crop Program or the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program. Funded practices include summer cover crops, cover crop mixes with less than 50% grass, legumes for crop nitrogen, cover crops planted into standing crops before August 1, interseeding into wide crop rows, early termination of grasses in a legume mix, and cover crops for grazing animals. The base payment is $40/acre, with add-on bonuses of $15/acre each for Diversity, Summer, Biomass, and Nitrogen Reduction, up to a maximum of $100/acre. Applications are approved on a first come, first served basis. The program is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

You may enroll 10 to 500 acres. You must plant the cover crop no later than November 5 (unless part of an approved Technical Service Provider-supported scenario) and may terminate no earlier than April 15 (unless summer-planted or an approved scenario). Seeding rates and mix calculations must follow NRCS Technical Guidelines unless an alternative scenario is approved. You must be in good standing with the Maryland Nutrient Management Program, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program, and other MDA conservation grant programs, and must submit a current Nutrient Management Plan Certification Form. Additional restrictions may apply.

Reduced Tillage

Regenerative

Conservation

Carbon Capture

This program pays a per-acre rate, not a fixed award. There is no per-farm dollar cap and no cost-share percentage — you are paid by the acre.

Rate chart:
| Practice | Payment rate/acre |
|---|---|
| Base | $40.00 |
| Diversity Bonus | $15.00 |
| Summer Bonus | $15.00 |
| Biomass Bonus | $15.00 |
| Nitrogen Reduction Bonus | $15.00 |
| Maximum | $100.00 |

How to earn each bonus:
- Diversity — three or more species planted from three or more functional groups (grass, legume, forb, brassica). If planting legumes for nitrogen, two different legume species plus one species from another functional group is permitted.
- Summer — "[t]he cover crop is planted after a small grain or after a fall/winter cover crop for field rest."
- Biomass — "[d]elay termination until a minimum biomass yield of 2,000 pounds per acre dry matter is documented."
- Nitrogen Reduction — "[p]rovide documentation showing at least a 15% reduction in commercial fertilizer application from the prior year's baseline."

Contract length: 3 years. "You sign a contract to grow cover crops on the same field(s) for 3 consecutive years using practices not supported by MDA's Traditional Cover Crop Program or the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program." At least 2 of the 3 years in your management plan must use scenarios not supported by those other programs.

Acreage limits: "You may enroll 10 to 500 acres in this program."

Planting and termination windows: plant no later than November 5 and terminate no earlier than April 15, unless summer-planted or part of an approved Technical Service Provider scenario. Seeding rates and mix calculations must follow NRCS Technical Guidelines unless an approved alternative applies.

Selection: "Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis" — not competitively scored.

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.

MDA Office of Resource Conservation

Office of Resource Conservation

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&#x2004;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.)



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.

Air Quality

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

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.

Farmers apply through their local soil conservation district; registered manure brokers apply directly to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Download forms before completing and mail completed forms to Maryland Department of Agriculture, Conservation Grants, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Room 207, Annapolis, MD 21401. See COMAR 15.20.05 for the full rules. Program contacts: Jason D. Keppler, Program Manager (410-841-5864); Alan Masters, Program Administrator (410-841-5871).

The Manure Transport Program helps cover the cost&#x2004;of transporting manure to farms with low phosphorus fields or to alternative use facilities. Payments of up to $28 per ton are available to eligible farmers or registered manure brokers to transport poultry litter. A 'Haul Now, Apply Later' FastTrack option lets farmers or brokers haul poultry manure now and apply for cost-share reimbursement later; a standard transport option is also available. The sending farm must be located in Maryland and raise broiler chickens for one of the participating Delmarva poultry companies; poultry litter must be transported more than 7 miles from the sending farm and land-applied as a nutrient source for an agricultural crop or sent to an approved alternative use facility. For dairy and other non-poultry livestock producers, cost-share grants pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs, with payment rates based on transport distance and manure type (liquid or solid). Either the farmer or the manure broker (not both) may apply for a given load.



The Manure Transport Program helps cover the cost of transporting manure to farms with low phosphorus fields or to alternative use facilities. Payments of up to $28 per ton are available to eligible farmers or registered manure brokers to transport poultry litter. A 'Haul Now, Apply Later' FastTrack option lets farmers or brokers haul poultry manure now and apply for cost-share reimbursement later; a standard transport option is also available. The sending farm must be located in Maryland and raise broiler chickens for one of the participating Delmarva poultry companies; poultry litter must be transported more than 7 miles from the sending farm and land-applied as a nutrient source for an agricultural crop or sent to an approved alternative use facility. For dairy and other non-poultry livestock producers, cost-share grants pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs, with payment rates based on transport distance and manure type (liquid or solid). Either the farmer or the manure broker (not both) may apply for a given load.

Poultry: qualifying farmers or registered manure brokers; the sending farm must be in Maryland raising broilers for a participating Delmarva poultry company; litter transported more than 7 miles. The applicant submits a current nutrient management plan with nitrogen-based recommendations for fields with a soil phosphorus Fertility Index Value (FIV) of 100 or less and phosphorus-based recommendations for fields with an FIV of 101-150; receiving fields with an FIV greater than 150 are not eligible. Dairy/livestock: only operations receiving the manure may apply; receiving fields must have an FIV below 101; manure transported more than 1 mile and applied to crops or hay fields containing less than 25 percent legumes; maximum application rates of 6,000 gallons/acre (liquid/slurry) or 10 tons/acre (solid/semi-solid).

- List of Manure Brokers and Spreading Services

Inputs

Paid as a per-unit rate and a cost-share percentage, not as a fixed award.

Poultry litter: "Qualifying farmers or manure brokers receive up to $28 per ton to transport poultry litter." Available either as a standard grant (approval required before hauling) or via the "Haul Now, Apply Later" FastTrack option ("You pay for delivery upfront and we'll reimburse you for eligible costs—up to $28 per ton"). Litter must move more than 7 miles from a Maryland farm raising broilers for a participating Delmarva poultry company. "Either the farmer or the manure broker (not both) may apply for cost-share reimbursement to transport a load of poultry manure." No absolute per-recipient dollar ceiling is published for the poultry pathway.

Dairy and other non-poultry livestock manure: "Cost-share grants pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs. Payment rates are based on the transport distance and type of manure, either liquid or solid." Manure must move more than 1 mile. This pathway does carry dollar caps: "Funding is capped at $15,000 per season and $30,000 a year for receiving farms." Transport grants are based on maximum application rates of "6,000 gallons per acre for liquid/slurry manure" or "10 tons per acre for solid/semi-solid manure," and receiving crops or hay fields must contain less than 25 percent legumes.

Manure injection (separate offer): "Cost-share grants of up to $45 an acre are available to help farmers inject liquid manure below the soil surface." Fields must have a P-FIV less than 500; work may begin March 1 if the ground is not frozen or snow-covered.

Applicants "must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants and Nutrient Management programs." No match is required beyond the farmer's residual share of costs. MDA notes it "is not involved in the financial transactions between buyers and sellers."

Contact your local (county) program administrator or MALPF Foundation staff for easement applications and information; addresses and telephone numbers, fact sheets, annual reports, and applicable laws and regulations are available on the MALPF website. Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-841-5700.

Foundation Staff

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), created by the General Assembly in 1977, was one of the first agricultural land preservation programs created in the United States and has become one of the nation's leaders in agricultural land preservation, preserving more agricultural land than any other state in the country. MALPF purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland; it has&#x2004;permanently preserved land in each of Maryland's 23 counties, representing a public investment of over $900 million. Since 1980, MALPF has purchased easements on over 2,500 properties, permanently preserving over 350,000 acres. Its mission is to preserve productive farmland and woodland for the continued production of food and fiber; curb the expansion of random urban development; help curb the spread of urban blight and deterioration; protect agricultural land and woodland as open space; protect wildlife habitat; and enhance the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.



The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), created by the General Assembly in 1977, was one of the first agricultural land preservation programs created in the United States and has become one of the nation's leaders in agricultural land preservation, preserving more agricultural land than any other state in the country. MALPF purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland; it has permanently preserved land in each of Maryland's 23 counties, representing a public investment of over $900 million. Since 1980, MALPF has purchased easements on over 2,500 properties, permanently preserving over 350,000 acres. Its mission is to preserve productive farmland and woodland for the continued production of food and fiber; curb the expansion of random urban development; help curb the spread of urban blight and deterioration; protect agricultural land and woodland as open space; protect wildlife habitat; and enhance the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Owners of prime farmland and woodland in Maryland who wish to sell a perpetual agricultural preservation easement on their land. Easements are administered in partnership with certified local (county) agricultural land preservation programs. See the Foundation's fact sheets and the 'How Can the Foundation Help You?' page for detailed landowner eligibility and easement criteria.

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

MALPF buys a perpetual agricultural preservation easement, so there is no grant amount — the payment is a negotiated purchase price, quoted per acre.

How the price is set: "The amount that the Foundation will pay for your easement is your asking price, the difference between the appraised fair market value of the land and its agricultural value, whichever is less, or a maximum of 75% of the appraised fair market value of the land."

Range actually paid: "Depending on where you live in Maryland, the value of your property, and your asking price, the Foundation has in recent years paid from $600 to over $10,000 per acre for agricultural preservation easements."

Worked example from Fact Sheet 3: $4,000 per acre estimated fair market value minus $1,200 per acre estimated agricultural value equals a $2,800 per acre estimated easement value (which may be capped at 75% of fair market value); discounting that by 20% gives a $2,240 per acre asking price. Landowners commonly discount their asking price to rank better — and selling an easement for less than the full appraised value of the restrictions may qualify the seller for certain tax benefits (consult your tax advisor).

Conditions: minimum property size is 50 contiguous acres, though neighboring landowners may apply jointly to reach 50 acres, and property contiguous to already-preserved land may apply regardless of acreage (Fact Sheet 1). Counties may impose a maximum per-acre offer price as a condition of local approval. Purchases are competitive — MALPF and local governments rank properties and make offers based on available funding. The landowner keeps ownership and may sell or transfer the land, may retain limited development rights, and no public access is required, but the restriction runs in perpetuity.

Apply through your local soil conservation district. The MACS Manual provides eligible practices, cost-share rates, the MACS Agreement, the Water Quality Project Application, and instructions. Contact MACS Program Manager Jason D. Keppler at 410-841-5864 or jason.keppler@maryland.gov, or the MDA Office of Resource Conservation, for assistance.

The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program provides farmers with grants to cover up to 87.5 percent of the cost to install conservation measures known as best management practices on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and&#x2004;the Chesapeake Bay. Grassed waterways planted to prevent gully erosion, streamside buffers of grasses and trees planted to filter sediment and farm runoff, and animal manure management systems are among more than 40 best management practices currently eligible for cost-share grants. Certain practices qualify for 100% cost-share (a Provision for 100% Cost-Share applies). The MACS Manual details the specifics of these best management practices and includes the eligible practices, per-practice cost-share rates, forms and instructions needed for a project to qualify for payment.



The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program provides farmers with grants to cover up to 87.5 percent of the cost to install conservation measures known as best management practices on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Grassed waterways planted to prevent gully erosion, streamside buffers of grasses and trees planted to filter sediment and farm runoff, and animal manure management systems are among more than 40 best management practices currently eligible for cost-share grants. Certain practices qualify for 100% cost-share (a Provision for 100% Cost-Share applies). The MACS Manual details the specifics of these best management practices and includes the eligible practices, per-practice cost-share rates, forms and instructions needed for a project to qualify for payment.

Available to Maryland farmers installing eligible best management practices. More than 40 BMPs are eligible, including waste storage structures, poultry mortality composting facilities, grassed waterways, riparian forest and herbaceous buffers, filter strips, fencing, heavy use areas, watering facilities, pasture management, silvopasture, and wetland restoration. Applicants must have a current nutrient management plan certification. Priority watersheds may be targeted for funding. See the MACS Manual (Sections I-IV) for the full list of eligible practices, cost-share rates, and required forms.

Cost-share percentage: "Specific BMP cost-share percentages vary from 50 percent to a maximum of 87.5 percent of eligible project costs." Most of the 40-plus eligible practices are cost-shared at 87.5%; exceptions in the current rate schedule include Sediment Control Pond at 65.0% and Fencing at 50% / 87.5%. MDA's MACS Grants fact sheet lists exclusion fencing and riparian forest buffer at up to 100%. The amount actually offered "depends on the cost-effectiveness of the proposed BMP when compared to other alternatives for that site."

Dollar caps (MACS Manual, Section I, Cost-Share Funding Limits):
- Single project other than animal waste storage or treatment: "may not exceed $150,000" — or "$200,000" if covered by a pooling agreement. "No farm limit requirement."
- Single animal waste storage or treatment project: "may not exceed $200,000."
- All animal waste storage or treatment projects for one person combined: "The total payment made for all animal waste storage or treatment projects located on a farm or farms that a person owns, operates, or in which the person has a controlling interest may not exceed $450,000," whether that person or a predecessor-in-title installed the project.
- Start-up or expansion poultry/livestock waste projects: capped at 50 percent of the eligible cost, not 87.5%.
- Nutrient management plans: up to 87.5% of eligible costs (which may include soil, plant tissue and manure analysis), and "[p]ayment made for the nutrient management plan project is not included in the maximum total cost share allowed per person."

A "farm" here is an operation run by one person — individual, joint operation, partnership, trust, corporation or legal entity — and may span contiguous or non-adjacent parcels.

Maintenance obligation: 5 to 15 years depending on the practice (for example 5 years for contour farming and strip cropping, 10 for grassed waterways and pasture management, 15 for waste storage structures, riparian forest buffer, hedgerow and tree & shrub establishment). The full per-practice list is in Section II of the MACS Manual.

How you are paid: "Payment is usually made by check directly to the applicant" after completion, and may be directed to an additional payee (vendor, contractor or lending institution) on request. Direct deposit is available.

Other conditions: you must hold a current nutrient management plan certification, and priority watersheds may be targeted for funding. Apply through your local soil conservation district.

Apply via Maryland OneStop (Farm to Foodbank application). Requests range from a $5,000 minimum to a $40,000 maximum against an approximately $200,000 pool. Recurring cycle (2025 recipients announced, e.g., Aaron's Place, AfriThrive, Capital Area Food Bank).

Karen Fedor

MFARM Program Director

MFARM, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, builds food-system resiliency by leveraging Maryland agricultural and seafood products to&#x2004;help food banks and charitable emergency food providers alleviate food insecurity, while creating a market for Maryland farmers and watermen to sell their products. The funding priority is purchasing agricultural/seafood products listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory; grant funds may also cover transportation of those products. Funding formula: 80% of funds toward food costs and up to 20% toward transportation/distribution, staff, and supplies. Total pool approximately $200,000. [Institutional: grants go to food banks/food providers, benefiting farmers as sellers.]



MFARM, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, builds food-system resiliency by leveraging Maryland agricultural and seafood products to help food banks and charitable emergency food providers alleviate food insecurity, while creating a market for Maryland farmers and watermen to sell their products. The funding priority is purchasing agricultural/seafood products listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory; grant funds may also cover transportation of those products. Funding formula: 80% of funds toward food costs and up to 20% toward transportation/distribution, staff, and supplies. Total pool approximately $200,000. [Institutional: grants go to food banks/food providers, benefiting farmers as sellers.]

Maryland food banks and charitable emergency food providers (e.g., food pantries, nonprofits, and similar organizations). Funds are used to purchase Maryland-produced agricultural/seafood products from local farms and seafood processors, prioritizing the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory.

Local Food

Farmers Market

Trade Relief

Food Systems

Marketing

Request range. MDA publishes all three figures plainly: "Funding Availability: $200,000", "Minimum Request: $5,000", "Maximum Request: $40,000."

How the money must be split. "Funding Formula: 80% of the funds will go towards food costs while 20% of the funds can go towards transportation/distribution, staff, supplies, etc." So on a $40,000 award, at most $8,000 can go to anything other than food purchases.

What it buys. Maryland agricultural and seafood products, with the priority being products "listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory." Grant funds may also cover "The transportation of agricultural/seafood products."

Match / cost share. None published.

2025 awards used the full range — Appalachian Farm & Food Alliance $40,000; Civic Works $40,000; AfriThrive $22,440; Aaron's Place, Capital Area Food Bank, Community FarmShare and OurSpace World $20,000 each; Prince George's Community College $10,000; Frederick Farm to School $7,560.

Paperwork conditions. Applicants must be registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (nonprofits also registered as a charity with the Maryland Secretary of State), and "An official and signed W-9 form will be required by all applicants." "If you have an established relationship with producers\seafood providers from the Certified Local Farm and Fish Directory, you will need to provide a Letter of Support from the producers that is signed and preferably on letterhead."

Note on who the applicant is. Grants go to food banks, charitable emergency food providers and food-focused nonprofits. A farmer's benefit here is as a paid seller into that purchasing, not as a grantee.

Verified 2026-09-04.

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.

Healthy Soils Program Specialist

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&#x2004;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.



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 program's specific grant tracks: Urban Agriculture Grants, Water and Power Grants, and the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program. The Urban Agriculture Grants 2026 window (June 15–July 24, 2026) and the Small Acreage Cover Crop 2026 enrollment (March 16–April 24, 2026) are now closed; Water and Power Grants are accepted on an ongoing basis as long as funds remain available. Contact Program Administrator Bill Tharpe at 410-841-5869 or bill.tharpe@maryland.gov, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Bill Tharpe

Program Administrator

Maryland's Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program provides financial assistance to support small-scale agricultural operations located in urban, peri-urban, rural, and suburban areas. It aims to increase community access to healthy foods by helping farmers&#x2004;improve their management of natural resources by adopting Bay-friendly and climate-smart farming practices. The program offers Urban Agriculture Grants to support the growth and development of urban farms and community gardens, Water and Power (infrastructure) Grants for qualifying operations located in urban areas, and Small Acreage Cover Crop Grants in the spring and fall. It is funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and managed by the department's Conservation Grants Program.



Maryland's Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program provides financial assistance to support small-scale agricultural operations located in urban, peri-urban, rural, and suburban areas. It aims to increase community access to healthy foods by helping farmers improve their management of natural resources by adopting Bay-friendly and climate-smart farming practices. The program offers Urban Agriculture Grants to support the growth and development of urban farms and community gardens, Water and Power (infrastructure) Grants for qualifying operations located in urban areas, and Small Acreage Cover Crop Grants in the spring and fall. It is funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and managed by the department's Conservation Grants Program.

Individuals, organized for-profit agricultural businesses, or non-profit organizations may apply. The operation must produce a farm product that generates a minimum of $1,000 of sales or donations annually, and the farm product must be grown or raised in the state of Maryland. Eligible operations include any agricultural, horticultural, vegetable, or fruit product of the soil (raw or processed); livestock, meats, marine food products, poultry, eggs, or dairy products; equine operations; wool, hides, feathers, or honey; and any product of farm, forest, orchard, garden, or water. The grantee is responsible for all local, state, or federal regulations and permits necessary for the operation.

The program's own landing page publishes no figures; each of its three grant tracks publishes its own ceiling.

Urban Agriculture Grants — "the maximum funder [sic] per application is $10,000." Within that award, two categories are sub-capped: purchase of real property in an urban area is "capped at 20% of the grant award," and operating expenses are "[c]apped at 15% of the grant award." The Maryland General Assembly has approved up to $100,000 in annual funding for this track through Fiscal Year 2029.

Urban Agriculture Water and Power Infrastructure Grants — "The grant provides up to 87.5% of the total project cost," and "[e]ach application has a maximum funding limit of $75,000." Eligible expenses include water meters, water pipes, irrigation hoses, electric meters, electrical lines, or other equipment authorized by the department. The applicant must have controlled the land for at least 5 years, by ownership or lease. Bids are required from authorized contractors for work on public roads, sidewalks, water mains and transformers, and from private contractors for on-site installation. Up to $500,000 in annual funding through Fiscal Year 2027; applications accepted on a rolling basis while funds remain.

Small Acreage Cover Crop Grants — for growers planting less than 10 acres of cover crop: "The maximum payment per grower is $1,500 per year." Growers are reimbursed based on paid receipts.

Common conditions: the operation must produce a farm product generating a minimum of $1,000 of sales or donations annually, the product must be grown or raised in Maryland, and the grantee carries all local, state and federal permitting. Farms required to have a Nutrient Management Plan must submit a current certification form with the application. No match is required beyond the cost-share percentage on the Water and Power track.

Annual competitive process. Approximately $400,000 anticipated; applicants must review USDA General Terms and Conditions (effective Dec 31, 2025) before applying. Grantee performance report deadline is November 15, 2026. Apply through MDA's SCBGP process (contact the program manager for the current cycle's solicitation and application template).

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Manager

The Maryland Department of Agriculture administers USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds (allocation based on Maryland&#x2004;specialty-crop acreage and production value each year) through an annual competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit, and government stakeholders. Purpose is to enhance the competitiveness of Maryland specialty crops including fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, honey, hops, grapes, maple syrup, Christmas trees, and nursery crops. MDA anticipates approximately $400,000 available; awards are subject to USDA General Terms and Conditions effective December 31, 2025. Projects benefiting only a single organization, business, institution, or individual are not fundable. [Institutional grant, but individual producers may apply if broader industry benefit is demonstrated.]



The Maryland Department of Agriculture administers USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds (allocation based on Maryland specialty-crop acreage and production value each year) through an annual competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit, and government stakeholders. Purpose is to enhance the competitiveness of Maryland specialty crops including fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, honey, hops, grapes, maple syrup, Christmas trees, and nursery crops. MDA anticipates approximately $400,000 available; awards are subject to USDA General Terms and Conditions effective December 31, 2025. Projects benefiting only a single organization, business, institution, or individual are not fundable. [Institutional grant, but individual producers may apply if broader industry benefit is demonstrated.]

Nonprofits, government entities, industry organizations, producer groups, and colleges/universities. Individual producers may apply only if the project demonstrates broader impact for a similar group of producers or industry segment (e.g., a farmer installing high tunnels who then holds a field day to encourage adoption). Projects that only benefit/profit a single entity are ineligible.

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Award size. "Competitive grants will be awarded for projects with a minimum of $15,000." No ceiling is published; instead MDA discloses the historical spread — "The Maryland SCBGP grants have ranged from $15,000 - $140,000." Treat $140,000 as the top of past awards, not a stated cap.

Funding pool. "MDA anticipates approximately $400,000 SCBGP funds based on available funding" — this is the total available across all awards, not a per-project figure.

Project length. "SCBGP grant funds will be awarded for projects up to 2 years in duration and must conclude by November 15, 2028."

Match. No cash or in-kind match requirement is published for this program.

Cost restriction that materially affects your budget. "Indirect costs are unallowable" — overhead cannot be recovered, so the full award must go to direct project costs.

Conditions on who benefits. "Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that only benefit or provide profit to a single organization, business, institution or individual." An individual producer can still be funded if the project spreads the benefit — MDA's own example is a farmer who erects high tunnels and then "conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods," while "a specialty crop producer requests funds to promote their asparagus at a roadside stand" is unacceptable.

Support requirement. "Applicants must have the support of a specific specialty crop organization or group with at least three specialty crop producers." Letters of support must be submitted. Applicants must reside in Maryland or have a Maryland business or educational affiliation, and "More than one project application per applicant may be submitted."

Federal terms attach to the award. Funds "will be subject to USDA's General Terms and Conditions, Effective December 31, 2025," which applicants are urged to read before applying.

Contact your local soil conservation district for free technical assistance and to apply for MACS-funded stream protection practices and the Conservation Buffer Initiative. For CREP, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office. Program information: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Office of Resource Conservation, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, phone 410-841-5865.

Stream Protection Practices help livestock&#x2004;and horse farmers whose pasture borders a stream access financial incentives for practices that support healthy waterways and livestock and that help comply with the Nutrient Management Program's livestock setback requirements for streams. Keeping animals away from waterways protects local streams and drinking water, prevents erosion, pollution, and habitat loss, ensures compliance with setback requirements, reduces herd disease and injury risk, and improves productivity. Practices delivered through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program include horse and livestock watering facilities and spring developments (up to 87.5% cost-share), livestock exclusion (stream) fencing (up to 87.5%), stream crossings (up to 87.5%), and stream buffers (up to 100% cost-share to plant riparian forest buffers, plus $2 for each tree planted). The Conservation Buffer Initiative offers up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing, plus a one-time bonus payment of $1,000/acre for new riparian forest buffers. Maryland's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) pays land rental rates to remove environmentally sensitive land from production for 10-15 years, with a one-time $1,000/acre bonus for new streamside riparian forest buffers.



Stream Protection Practices help livestock and horse farmers whose pasture borders a stream access financial incentives for practices that support healthy waterways and livestock and that help comply with the Nutrient Management Program's livestock setback requirements for streams. Keeping animals away from waterways protects local streams and drinking water, prevents erosion, pollution, and habitat loss, ensures compliance with setback requirements, reduces herd disease and injury risk, and improves productivity. Practices delivered through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program include horse and livestock watering facilities and spring developments (up to 87.5% cost-share), livestock exclusion (stream) fencing (up to 87.5%), stream crossings (up to 87.5%), and stream buffers (up to 100% cost-share to plant riparian forest buffers, plus $2 for each tree planted). The Conservation Buffer Initiative offers up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing, plus a one-time bonus payment of $1,000/acre for new riparian forest buffers. Maryland's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) pays land rental rates to remove environmentally sensitive land from production for 10-15 years, with a one-time $1,000/acre bonus for new streamside riparian forest buffers.

Livestock and horse farmers whose pasture borders a stream. Individual practices are delivered through the MACS program and follow MACS eligibility. The Conservation Buffer Initiative is available during its annual open enrollment period (November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026). CREP is a federal-state partnership program applied for through the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Infrastructure

Everything published here is a cost-share percentage or a per-unit rate — there is no fixed per-farm award and no dollar ceiling stated for any practice.

Practices delivered through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program:
- Horse and livestock watering facilities and spring developments: "Up to 87.5% cost-share"
- Livestock exclusion (stream) fencing: "Up to 87.5% cost-share is available for this practice through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS)"
- Stream crossings: "Up to 87.5% cost-share"
- Stream buffers: "up to 100% cost-share to plant riparian forest buffers, and $2 for each tree planted"

Conservation Buffer Initiative: "Farmers can receive up to $4,500 an acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing. New riparian forest buffers also qualify for a one-time BONUS PAYMENT of $1,000/acre." Apply through your soil conservation district "during the annual open enrollment period which runs from November 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026."

Maryland's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): "pays farmers and rural landowners attractive land rental rates to remove environmentally sensitive agricultural land out of production for 10-15 years and install conservation practices to protect streams and create wildlife habitat. Farmers who plant new riparian forest buffers next to streams qualify for a one-time BONUS PAYMENT of $1,000/acre." The rental rate itself is not published on this page; CREP is applied for through the local USDA Farm Service Agency office, not MDA.

No match is required beyond the farmer's share of the cost-share (i.e. the remaining 12.5% where the rate is 87.5%). Apply through your local soil conservation district for MACS practices and the Conservation Buffer Initiative — technical assistance there is free.

The 2026-2027 sign-up ran June 22 through July 17, 2026 at local soil conservation district offices (now closed; approval letters to be mailed). Apply in person at your local soil conservation district and bring your completed Nutrient Management Plan Certification and IRS Form W-9. Certify your cover crop with your district within one week of planting and by November 12, 2026; all follow-up documentation is due by December 1, 2026.

Maryland's Cover Crop Program&#x2004;provides grants to help farmers pay for the seed, labor, and equipment costs to plant soil-building cover crops in their fields each fall. Cover crops are important to the health of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay and can improve the quality of spring cash crops and lower input costs by recycling unused nutrients, adding organic matter, controlling weeds and pests, reducing soil erosion and compaction, and protecting fields from too much or too little rain. For 2026-2027 the base payment is $35/acre, with up to $65/acre available in add-on incentives for highly valued planting practices (add $15/acre for incorporating on or before October 10, and $15/acre for planting rye, triticale, or a multi-species cover crop). Aerial and broadcast stalk-chop/cultipacker options are capped at $50/acre. Non-poultry manure may be applied to cover crop fields in the fall at a reduced payment rate of $25/acre. The program is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.



Maryland's Cover Crop Program provides grants to help farmers pay for the seed, labor, and equipment costs to plant soil-building cover crops in their fields each fall. Cover crops are important to the health of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay and can improve the quality of spring cash crops and lower input costs by recycling unused nutrients, adding organic matter, controlling weeds and pests, reducing soil erosion and compaction, and protecting fields from too much or too little rain. For 2026-2027 the base payment is $35/acre, with up to $65/acre available in add-on incentives for highly valued planting practices (add $15/acre for incorporating on or before October 10, and $15/acre for planting rye, triticale, or a multi-species cover crop). Aerial and broadcast stalk-chop/cultipacker options are capped at $50/acre. Non-poultry manure may be applied to cover crop fields in the fall at a reduced payment rate of $25/acre. The program is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.

You must plant at least 10 acres of cover crops to participate, and enrolled acreage cannot exceed Nutrient Management Plan acreage. Plant cover crops after corn, soybeans, sorghum (sorghum/Sudan hybrid), tobacco, vegetables, hemp, sunflowers, sod, or millet. Eligible species: cereal grains (wheat/spelt, rye, barley, triticale, oats, ryegrass); brassicas (forage radish, canola/rape); and legumes (clover, Austrian winter peas, hairy vetch). Brassicas and legumes must be planted with a cereal grain as part of a mix. Homegrown and purchased seed must be tested and labeled per Maryland Seed Law, be free of prohibited noxious weed seeds, have at least 80% germination, and contain no more than 16 restricted noxious weeds per pound. You must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants Program and in compliance with Maryland's nutrient management requirements.

Paid as a per-acre incentive on enrolled acreage — there is no per-farm dollar cap and no cost-share percentage.

2026-2027 payment schedule. Base payment is $35/acre for every traditional planting method (no-till; conventional; broadcast with light, medium or vertical tillage; aerial; and broadcast stalk chop / broadcast cultipacker). Two add-ons stack on the base: incorporate on or before October 10, add "$15/acre" (worth $0 for aerial and for broadcast stalk chop/cultipacker); plant rye, triticale, or a multi-species cover crop, add "$15/acre" (available for all five methods). Maximum payment is therefore $65/acre for no-till, conventional, and broadcast-with-tillage, and $50/acre for aerial and broadcast stalk chop/cultipacker. MDA summarizes it as: "This year's base payment is $35/acre, but you can earn up to $65/acre in add-on incentives for using highly valued planting practices" — note that $65/acre is the maximum total, not $65 of add-ons on top of the base.

Fields receiving fall manure are paid less: "Non-poultry manure may be applied to cover crop fields in the fall at a reduced payment rate of $25/acre. Certain conditions apply. This option does not qualify for additional incentives."

Conditions on payment: "You must plant at least 10 acres of cover crops to participate in this program" and "Enrolled acreage cannot exceed Nutrient Management Plan acreage." You must certify with your local soil conservation district within one week of planting and by November 12, 2026, with all follow-up documentation submitted by December 1, 2026; cover crops must be terminated between March 1 and June 1, 2027. Seed must meet Maryland Seed Law labeling, at least 80% germination, and no more than 16 restricted noxious weeds per pound. Direct deposit of cost-share grants is available. You must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants Program and in compliance with Maryland's nutrient management requirements.

2027 grant application period closed October 5, 2026. All grant applications are typically due in early October with recipients announced in early January. Review the 2027 Grant Guidelines, then apply through the online portal (application form) found on the Maryland Horse Board Grants Program webpage. Grant recipients will be announced January 2027; all funded projects, with final reports received by MHIB, must be completed by June 30, 2027.

Anne Litz

Executive Director, Maryland Horse Industry Board

The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB), part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, provides small grants for research, education, and promotional activities&#x2004;that further develop Maryland's horse industry. The program is supported by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6.00 from each ton of horse feed sold in the state; since 2002 nearly $700,000 has been awarded to more than 450 projects supporting horses, horse owners, equine organizations, educational institutions, and local communities.


Funding requests should not exceed $3,000, with the average award approximately $1,000; MHIB awards approximately $30,000 in grant funding each year. Projects demonstrating collaboration and strengthening Maryland's equine industry receive additional consideration. [Institutional/community grant; licensed farms and stables are among eligible applicants.]



The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB), part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, provides small grants for research, education, and promotional activities that further develop Maryland's horse industry. The program is supported by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6.00 from each ton of horse feed sold in the state; since 2002 nearly $700,000 has been awarded to more than 450 projects supporting horses, horse owners, equine organizations, educational institutions, and local communities.

Funding requests should not exceed $3,000, with the average award approximately $1,000; MHIB awards approximately $30,000 in grant funding each year. Projects demonstrating collaboration and strengthening Maryland's equine industry receive additional consideration. [Institutional/community grant; licensed farms and stables are among eligible applicants.]

Nonprofit organizations, equine associations, clubs, businesses, licensed farms and stables, educational institutions, and local and state government entities. Projects that demonstrate collaboration and strengthen Maryland's equine industry are prioritized.

Trials

Stewardship

Request cap. "Grant requests should not exceed $3,000" and "Only one grant submitted per organization" (FY2027 Grant Application Guidelines).

Typical size. The FY2027 guidelines say "The average grant amount awarded is approximately $1,000 with total grant monies awarded each year--$30,000." The MHIB grants page puts the average slightly higher: "The average grant amount is approximately $1,200." For scale, "In FY 2022, 37 projects received nearly $40,000 in grant allocations."

Sub-cap. "Grant funds for applicants to attend conferences, trainings, or certifications will be limited to $500 or less."

Match. No match is required, but "Potential for matching funds" is one of five review criteria — alongside quality of written presentation, potential impact and value to the horse industry, feasibility of the project, and financial need.

What the Board is less likely to fund. "1) capital expenditures on farms including waterers, run-in sheds, trail bridges, fencing, etc., 2) supplies already purchased or projects already conducted, 3) University overhead or indirect costs, and 4) purchase, lease or care of horses." Entities seeking event sponsorships are encouraged to apply as a grant instead.

Term and conditions. "Grant recipients should be notified of the status of their application within 120 days of the deadline date. Funding will be available as soon as possible after January 15th. Project must be completed by June 30, 2027," with a final report on spending and outcomes also due June 30, 2027. "In some instances, the review committee may recommend a grant amount less than what was requested."

Funding source. The Maryland Feed Fund, "which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland."

Verified 2026-09-04 against the MHIB grants page and the FY2027 Grant Application Guidelines PDF.

Round 2 (FY2027) is open: the Tier 1 Application Portal opened September 22, 2026 and closes November 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST. All interested applicants must submit a Tier 1 application by the deadline; applicants who meet baseline requirements advance to a Tier 2 application. Learn more, check eligibility, and apply through the DHCD NourishMD portal; a NourishMD consultation can be scheduled to discuss needs and financing options.

NourishMD Program (DHCD Business Lending / MDA)

Program Contact

NourishMD, a partnership between the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), makes direct grants to eligible food retailers to expand access to healthy, fresh food in Maryland communities experiencing food insecurity. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with up to $3.65 million&#x2004;total available ($2 million in state funds plus $1.65 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds; RHTP-funded awards require a designated rural county). Funds support equipment (refrigeration, shelving), facility acquisition/construction/expansion, initial inventory, working capital tied to expansion, and SNAP/EBT infrastructure and technology. MDA and NourishMD co-award funds to farmers markets and on-farm stands via a partnership with Maryland Market Money (MMM); applicants to both receive award priority. No application fee; a $250 processing fee is deducted from the award. [Institutional retailer grant; on-farm markets, farm stands, and farmers markets are eligible retailers.]



NourishMD, a partnership between the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), makes direct grants to eligible food retailers to expand access to healthy, fresh food in Maryland communities experiencing food insecurity. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with up to $3.65 million total available ($2 million in state funds plus $1.65 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds; RHTP-funded awards require a designated rural county). Funds support equipment (refrigeration, shelving), facility acquisition/construction/expansion, initial inventory, working capital tied to expansion, and SNAP/EBT infrastructure and technology. MDA and NourishMD co-award funds to farmers markets and on-farm stands via a partnership with Maryland Market Money (MMM); applicants to both receive award priority. No application fee; a $250 processing fee is deducted from the award. [Institutional retailer grant; on-farm markets, farm stands, and farmers markets are eligible retailers.]

For-profit or nonprofit food retailers that serve a community with a Maryland Community Compass (MCC) Fresh Food Gap Score of 65% or higher (all projects must meet an absolute Fresh Food Gap Score floor of 65); operate at least 5 days per week year-round (farmers markets/on-farm markets are exempt from the 5-day requirement but must operate weekly year-round); currently offer or plan to offer fresh, frozen, or minimally processed healthy foods; and dedicate at least 20% of inventory or food-sales space to healthy food. Eligible retailers include grocery stores, corner stores, co-ops, farm stands, farmers' markets, delivery retailers, and small food-focused stores.

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Grant size: $25,000 – $150,000 per award, made as a direct grant (not a loan).

Total funding available: up to $3.65 million — $2 million in state funds plus $1.65 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds. That is the program pool, not a per-applicant figure. To qualify for the RHTP portion, the retailer must be located in a designated rural county. Dually-sourced awards are available.

Fees: no application fee, and a $250 processing fee deducted from the award amount.

Eligible uses depend on the funding source. The $2 million in state funds may cover equipment purchases (refrigeration, shelving, etc.), facility acquisition, construction or expansion, initial inventory costs, working capital tied to expansion/construction, and infrastructure and technology for SNAP/EBT. The $1.65 million in federal RHTP funds may cover equipment purchases, working capital, and SNAP/EBT infrastructure and technology.

No applicant match or cost-share percentage is published. Applicants who also apply to the Maryland Market Money program "will receive priority for awards"; MMM itself provides a dollar-for-dollar match on purchases made with federal nutrition benefits at participating markets and farm stands. Separately, DHCD's Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program "can further provide loans of up to $5 million."

List of Maryland Department of Agriculture Funding Opportunities