Cover Crop Plus+ Program

Cover Crop Plus Main_Content ​​​ ​​ ​ The 2024-2025 Enrollment Period has ended.​ FARMERS… How would you like to earn higher  incentives to plant cover crops in  your fields to improve soil health?  Cover Crop Plus+  offers higher  incentive payments to farmers who  use enhanced cover crop practices  to encourage greater biodiversity  and increased residue management  to improve soil health.​ HOW IT WORKS You sign a contract to grow cover crop mixes on the same field for 3 consecutive years. You agree to maintain a living root system in enrolled fields throughout the year and manage the cover crop to achieve maximum soil health and water quality benefits. The base payment for this premium incentive program is $125/acre, per year . Optional add-on practices can increase the reimbursement rate up to $18​0/acre . ​ COVER CROP RATE CHART WITH ADD-ON PRACTICES THE DETAILS ​You sign a contract to grow cover crop mixes on the same fields for 3 consecutive years. You may enroll up to 500 acres in this program. You agree to maintain a living root system on enrolled fields throughout the year and manage the cover crop to achieve maximum soil health and water quality benefits (30% residue). Fall cover crops must be planted  within 10 days of harvesting or terminating the previous crop, or planted “green” into a standing ​crop to maintain near year-round living roots in the soil. The planting deadline is  October 15 . ​ (Limited one-time exceptions to the fall planting deadline may be granted, resulting in a reduced payment. Restrictions apply.) You agree to plant multispecies  cover crops, with cereal grain or ryegrass making up at least 50% of the mix and a legume making up at least 25%. Download the Seed Calculator (Excel file) provided in the right column to help calculate a cover crop seed mix that will qualify for the program. ​This program uses the same species and seeding rates as Maryland's traditional Cover Crop Program.​ Only no-till or conservation  tillage may be used throughout the 3-year contract. To qualify for payment, optional  add-ons must be new practices not used in the previous 3 years on an enrolled field. After 3 years, you may re-enroll in the optional practices. There is no deadline to terminate cover crops in the spring. ​  ELIGIBILITY ​​You must meet the State of Maryland's definition of an “agricultural operation." If you lease land, you must confirm that the enrolled acres will be under your care for the entire term of the agreement. You must be in good standing with the Maryland Nutrient Management Program, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program, and other MDA conservation grants programs. You must submit a current Nutrient Management Plan Certification with your application. Additional restrictions may apply. ​  HOW TO APPLY FOR  COVER CROP  Plus+​ Contact your local soil conservation district​ for assistance with applications and claim for payment forms. Visit our Traditional Cover Crop Program web ​page.​ ​ ​ Center_Content

ELIGIBILITY ​​You must meet the State of Maryland's definition of an “agricultural operation."