ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 17, 2026) ~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that the sign-ups for the 2026 Cover Crop Grant Program will open on June 22 and run through July 17, 2026 at local soil conservation districts. This program, which has a budget of $22 million, aims to provide financial assistance to farmers in order to offset costs associated with planting fall cover crops.

According to Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, cover crops have proven to be the leading conservation practice in the state. They not only benefit farmers but also help protect the Chesapeake Bay from agricultural runoff. The 2024-2025 planting season saw an estimated 3.4 million pounds of nitrogen and 4,000 pounds of phosphorus prevented from reaching Maryland waterways due to cover crops capturing and recycling nutrients for future crops.

Atticks encourages farmers to continue this progress by taking advantage of the conservation grants and investing in the long-term health of their land. Fall cover crops provide numerous benefits such as preventing erosion, capturing and recycling unused nutrients, improving soil health, increasing organic matter, reducing weed and pest pressure, and protecting fields from extreme weather conditions.

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In addition, cover crops play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon in the soil.

The Cover Crop Program offers grants for a variety of cold-hardy cereal grains and mixes. These cover crops can be planted following the harvest of corn, soybeans, sorghum (sorghum/Sudan hybrids), tobacco, vegetables, hemp, sunflowers, sod or millet. While enrolled cover crops may not be harvested, they can be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage once they are well-established.

Some highlights of the 2026-2027 program include a base payment rate of $35/acre with potential additional incentives up to $65/acre. Non-poultry manure can also be applied to cover crop fields in the fall for a reduced payment rate of $25/acre. To participate, farmers must sign up to plant at least 10 acres of cover crops.

Farmers can apply for the cover crop grants in-person at their local soil conservation district between June 22 and July 17. Those who participated in last year's program will receive an information packet in the mail. More information is also available on MDA's Cover Crop website.

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The Cover Crop Program is administered by MDA's Conservation Grants Program and the state's 23 soil conservation districts. It is open to Maryland farmers who are in good standing with the Conservation Grants Program and comply with Maryland's nutrient management requirements. A completed Current Nutrient Management Plan Certification form is required at sign-up, and other restrictions and conditions may apply. The funding for this program comes from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund.

In addition to the Traditional Cover Crop Program, MDA is also bringing back the Cover Crop Plus+ grants for innovative cover crop practitioners who commit to a three-year program. This updated program supports cover cropping scenarios that fall outside of traditional program support. Interested farmers can visit the Cover Crop Plus+ website for more information on this exciting opportunity.

With the opening of sign-ups for the 2026 Cover Crop Grant Program, Maryland farmers have another opportunity to invest in their land's long-term health while also protecting the Chesapeake Bay. The success of previous planting seasons shows that cover crops are an effective conservation practice that benefits both farmers and the environment.

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