Cover Crop Program

Cover Crop Program Main_Content ​ Maryland's 2026-2027 Cover Crop Sign-​Up Opens June 22, 2026 Please check back for details.​​ ​​ WHY COVER CROPS? Cover crops are important to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the productivity of Maryland’s farmland... We offer cost-share grants to help farmers plant cold-hardy cereal other fall cover crops following the harvest of spring/summer crops. As cover crops grow, they recycle unused plant nutrients, prevent  erosion, and improve the soil for spring crops. Cover crops also help remove carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas—from the air and protect farm fields from extreme weather events. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Our cost-share grants help pay for seed and planting costs for many types of fall  cover crops. You can apply for our grants at your local soil conservation district during the annual enrollment window. This usually takes place in late June and early July. Cost-share rates vary from year to year—please check the current year's program details.​ ELIGIBLE COVER CROP SPECIES ​​ Cereal Grains:  Wheat/spelt, ryegrass Brassicas:​  Forage  radish and canola (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)​ HELPFUL GUIDELINES​ ​ Plant cover crops after millet. You can use the following planting methods: no-till, conventional till, broadcast/light tillage, broadcast/stalk chopping and aerial seeding. Follow Maryland Seed Law and Regulations if you plan to use homegrown seed. There are no acreage caps, but there is a 10-acre minimum . ​ Cost-share is available for seed testing. You must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants and Nutrient Management programs. Additional conditions may apply. PLANTING DEADLINES AND INCENTIVES ​You’ll need to get your cover crop planted by early November to qualify for payment and ensure success. Additional incentives are available if you plant your cover crop by October 10 ​th  or use a multi-species cover crop. FALL MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Cover crops may be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage after becoming​ well established. ​ ​CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT You'll need to certify planted acres with your local soil conservation district within one week of planting and after kill down or suppression.  For the 2025-2026 p lanting season, cover crops must be terminated by June 1, 2026.   Termination options include green chopping, plowing under, rolling/crimping, or using a burn-down herbicide. ​ FIND A CONTRACTOR TO PLANT  YOUR COVER CROP​ Get a list of cont​ractors   who can plant cover crops in your fields this fall. APPLY IN PERSON Please contact your   local soil conser​vation​ district  to  apply for our grants​   during the signup window.  Bring your completed  Nutrient  Management Plan Certification  and IRS Form W-9. Maryland's Cover Crop Program is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Contact your local  soil conservation district for more information. ​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​ Center_Content