Maryland Department of Agriculture Opens Small Acreage Cover Crop Program for Local Growers

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the commencement of the sign-up period for the 2024 Small Acreage Cover Crop Program aimed at supporting small farms and urban growers in enhancing soil health and water quality.

Spanning from March 25 to April 30, 2024, this program offers grants to growers planting cover crops on less than 10 acres to foster healthy soils, improve crop yields, protect water quality, and boost climate resilience.

Kevin Atticks, the Secretary of Maryland Agriculture, emphasized the importance of ensuring local communities have access to fresh, nutritious food and acknowledged the vital role played by small-scale and urban farmers in maintaining sustainable food systems.

The program, which provides up to $1,500 per grower annually, is funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and managed by the Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program.

Interested small-scale and urban producers can access grant applications on the Maryland Department of Agriculture website, with submissions required to be postmarked by April 30, 2024.

For further details or assistance with the application process, growers can reach out to Bill Tharpe, the Program Administrator for the Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program, at 410-841-5869.