The 2024-2025 enrollment period has ended.
Sign up Dates
This year’s cover crop sign-up runs June 21 through July 17, 2024. This is your opportunity to apply for attractive grants to help pay for seed, labor, and equipment costs to plant cover crops in your fields this fall. Note: The 2024-2025 Cover Crop enrollment period is now closed.
Why Cover Crops?
Fall-planted cover crops are your best defense against erosion and runoff in the water. They build healthy soil by supplying organic matter, suppressing weeds and pests, reducing compaction, and protecting fields from too much or too little rain. They even help remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Apply in Person
Please contact the Kent Soil and Water Conservation District office. You will be asked for a copy of your completed Nutrient Management Certification. This form is included in your registration packet and can downloaded from MDA’s website.
What’s New
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- This year, MDA is offering increased incentive payments to farmers who use highly valued planting practices.
- You can earn up to $95/acre with incentives.
- Aerially seeded cover crops qualify for up to $90/acre with incentives.
- Important Note: Due to overwhelming response to this year’s Cover Crop Program, MDA has exceeded their funding threshold. To ensure they can accommadate all applicants, the “Delayed Termination Incentive” will not be offered this year. If you requested this incentive on your application, your total eligible grant amoutn will be reduced accordingly.
Planting Options
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- Plant cover crops after corn, soybeans, sorghum, tobacco, vegetables, hemp, or millet.
- You must sign up to plant at least 10 acres of cover crops to participate in this program.
- Total enrolled acres may not exceed acreage managed under the farm’s Nutrient Management Plan.
- Direct deposit of cost-share grants is available.
Seed Requirements
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- 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 a minimum germination rate of 80%, and have no more than 16 restricted noxious weeds per pound.
- Cost-share is available for seed testing.
Eligible Cover Crop Species
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- Cereal Grains – Wheat/Spelt, Rye, Barley, Triticale, Oats, and Ryegrass
- Brassicas – Forage Radish and Canola/Rape
- 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.
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- Two-species cover crop mixes may be planted at a rate 50% cereal grains and 50% brassicas or legumes.
- Three species mixes (50/25/25) must contain a minimum of 50% eligible cereal grains.
Important Dates and Deadlines
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- Plant mixes containing legumes, forage radish, canola/rape, or oats by October 1, 2024.
- The aerial seeding deadline is October 10, 2024. Some species have earlier deadlines.
- Plant cereal grains by November 5, 2024. Some species have earlier deadlines.
- Terminate cover crops between March 1 and June 1, 2025.
- The latest date cover crops may be planted is November 15, with termination no earlier than May 1, 2025.
Fall Management Options
After becoming well-established, eligible cover crops may be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage. Manure may be applied in the fall following Maryland’s nutrient management regulations.
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, 2024. Cetify late-planted cover crops by November 22, 2024. All follow-up documentation must be submitted to KSWCD by December 2, 2024 to recieve payment.
Program Eligibility
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- 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.