Conservation Grants

Conservation Grants Main_Content ​ ​ ​​ Coming Soon...Maryland's 2026-2027 Cover Crop Sign-Up​ ​ The Maryland Department of Agriculture provides a range of conservation grants to help farmers offset the cost of installing best management practices on their farms to protect the natural resources they depend on and com​ply with federal, state and local environmental requirements. Please click the links to learn more about our programs​. The  Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program  provides  grants that cover up to 100 percent of the cost to install BMPs on farms to control soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Approximately 40 BMPs are currently eligible for funding. The  Cover Crop Program  provides farmers with grants to plant small grains in their fields in the fall to conserve nutrients, control soil erosion, and protect water quality. ​ The  Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) — a federal-state partnership program landowners attractive land rental rates to take environmentally sensitive cropland out of production for 10 to 15 years and plant buffers and other conservation practices that protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat.  A Manure Management Program   helps farmers  manage manure resources, comply  with nutrient management  regulations, and protect water  quality in local the Chesapeake Bay. Our Ecosystem Incentives Program​ provides a menu of conservation incentives that promote clean water, healthy soils, and climate solutions. These include MDA's Conservation Buffer​ Incentive, Tree Planting Incentives, CREP bonus payments, Cover Crop Plus grants, Tax Incentives for Conservation Equipment, and Low Interest Loans (LILAC) for agricultural  conservation projects. Maryland’s Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program provides financial assistance to support small-scale agricultural operations located in 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.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Center_Content

The  Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program  provides  grants that cover up to 100 percent of the cost to install BMPs on farms to control soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Approximately 40 BMPs are currently eligible for funding. The  Cover Crop Program  provides farmers with grants to plant small grains in their fields in the fall to conserve nutrients, control soil erosion, and protect water quality. ​ The  Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) — a federal-state partnership program landowners