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Mark Your Calendars!

Maryland’s 2026-2027 Cover Crop Sign-Up runs June 22 through July 17, 2026.  This is your opportunity to apply for grants to help cover the cost of planting cover crops in your fields this fall to enhance soil and water quality.

 

Why Cover Crops?

Cover crops are important to the health of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.  They can also improve the quality of spring cash crops and lower input costs by:

  • Recycling unused nutrients for spring cash crops
  • Adding organic matter to the soil
  • Controlling weeds and pests
  • Reducing soil erosion and compaction
  • Protecting fields from too much or too little rain

 

Apply in Person

Please contact the Kent Soil and Water Conservation District office.  Bring your completed Nutrient Management Plan Certification and IRS Form W-9.

 

2026-2027 Program Highlights

This year’s base payment is $35/acre, but you can earn up to $65/acre with add-on incentives for using highly valued planting practices.

2026-2027 Cover Crop Planting and Payment Options

 

Planting Options

  • Plant cover crops after corn, soybeans, sorghum (sorghum/Sudan hybrid), tobacco, vegetables, hemp, sunflowers, sod, or millet.
  • You must plant at least 10 acres of cover crops to participate in this program.
  • Enrolled acreage cannot exceed Nutrient Management Plan acreage.
  • Direct deposit of cost-share grants is available.

 

Seed Requirements

  • Both homegrown and purchased seed must be tested and labeled following Maryland Seed Law and Regulations.
  • Seed must be free of prohibited noxious weed seeds, have at least 80% germination, and contain no more than 16 restricted noxious weeds per pound.
  • Cover crop fact sheets showing eligible seeding rates are available online and at the Kent Soil and Water Conservation District office.

 

Eligible Cover Crop Species

  • Cereal Grains – Wheat/Spelt, Rye, Barley, Triticale, Oats, and Ryegrass
  • Brassicas – Forage Radish and Canola/Rape (must be planted with a cereal grain as part of a mix)
  • Legumes – Clover, Austrian Winter Peas, and Hairy Vetch (must be planted with a cereal grain as part of a mix)

 

Cover Crop Mixes

Planting a cover crop mix can increase biodiversity on your farm and protect against weather extremes.

  • Plant two-species cover crop mixes at a rate of 50% cereal grains and 50% brassicas or legumes.
  • Three species mixes (50/25/25) must contain a minimum of 50% eligible cereal grains.
  • To maximize their soil health benefits, we recommend that mixes containing legumes be terminated after May 1.

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • Plant cereal grains by November 5, 2026.  Some species have earlier deadlines.
  • Plant oats and mixes containing legumes, forage radish, or canola/rape by October 10, 2026.
  • The aerial seeding deadline is October 10, 2026.
  • The deadline to receive an incentive for incorporated seeding methods is October 10, 2026.
  • Terminate cover crops between March 1 and June 1, 2027.

 

Fall Management Options

  • After becoming well-established, eligible cover crops may be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage.
  • 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 additionNo additional incentives apply.

 

Certification Requirement

To receive payment, you must certify your cover crop with the Kent Soil and Water Conservation District within one week of planting and by November 12, 2026.  In addition, all follow-up documentation must be submitted to KSWCD by December 1, 2026.

 

Program Eligibility

    • You must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants Program and in compliance with Maryland’s nutrient management requirements.
    • Additional restrictions may apply.

 

For more information on the Cover Crop Program, visit the MDA webpage.