Cover Crops

2023-2024 Program Updates

This year MDA required the last page of the Agreement signed, a completed W9 in addition to the Nutrient Management Certification form and application.

Click here for MDA’s Cover Crop website.

Cover crops are small grains (or sometimes legumes or brassicas) that are planted after harvesting the fall crop to protect soil health and water quality during the winter. There is cost share available for planting cover crops through Maryland Department of Agriculture. Sign up for prospective plantings begin in July. Farmers can plant and get paid as late as early November. Once they have finished planting, they can come in to certify what they actually planted. In the spring producer kill down their cover crop using herbicide, plowing, green chopping, etc. Cover crop can pay up to $80/ acre depending on method of planting, species planted, dates planted, and dates killed down. Earlier plantings have payment incentives, and provide increased soil health benefits. Cover crops can be planted by aerial, no-till, conventional, turbo-till, and several other methods. They must follow corn, soybeans, sorghum, tobacco or vegetables. There is a 5 acre minimum, but no maximum. Delaying kill down until after May 1st also includes a $10/ acre incentive and provides great soil health benefits.

Eligible cover crop species include: Cereal grains (wheat, rye, barley, triticale, spring oats, ryegrass, and canola), Forage Radish, Legumes (crimson clover, Austrian winter peas, hairy vetch). Legumes must be planted as part of a mix with cereal grains. Up to 3 species can be mixed with at least 50% being a cereal grain.  This year incentives of additional $10/acre are available if you plant cereal rye and/or plant an approved multi-species mix.  Please note, acres planted in canola/rapeseed is minus $15/acre.  MDA also approved $10/acre for delayed kill down, after May 1, 2022.  Forage radish and spring oats are not eligible for delayed kill down incentive.  Planting green may not occur prior to May 1, 2022 if the applicant wishes.

Seed-Sample-Testing-Form-Cover-Crop Download