Soil Health

Maryland's Healthy Soils Program Main_Content Farmers in Maryland have established themselves as national leaders in on-farm conservation. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and soil health through the early and widespread adoption of conservation practices, such as cover crops and no-till farming. Healthy soils provide water and climate benefits and can increase farm resilience, and profitability. The Healthy Soils Program welcomes farmers who want to improve soil health by minimizing disturbance, maximizing biodiversity, and maintaining continuous soil cover and living roots.​ We offer grants and technical support to help farmers adopt innovative conservation practices, promote responsible management of soil and water resources, and foster the development of soil health knowledge within the agricultural community. Grant Programs Healthy Soils Competitive Fund​ — Provides up to $50,000 for soil health and agroforestry practices. Applications open November 2026 Cover Crop Plus+ Grants — Provides up to $100/acre for innovative cover cropping. Grants now open! ​ Funding support for our programs is made possible through the Moore-Miller Administration’s implementation of the Climate Solutions Now Act and a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant awarded to the Atlantic Conservation Coalition by the Environmental Protection Agency.​ Updated 7/21/26 ​ Center_Content

Funding and Eligible Expenses ​ ​This competitive grant program awards selected applicants with up to $50,000 to support 3 years of enhanced soil health practices. Grant recipients will receive a portion of the funds (not to exceed 30%) upfront, with the reminder distributed annually following verification of progress.