Cover Crop Plus Program

Cover Crop Plus Overview

INTRODUCING Cover Crop Plus+, is a new pilot ​financial incentive program for soil health farmers. Cover Crop PLUS+ offers higher incentive payments and more perks for farmers who plant cover crops to improve soil health. The program is offered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Grants Program.

The program has been revamped for the 2026/2027 season. 

Sign up for 2026/2027 June 22 through July 17, 2027. See the bottom of the page for details about how to sign up.

How It Works

You sign a contract to grow cover crops on the same field(s) for 3 consecutive years using practices not supported by MDA’s Traditional Cover Crop Program or the Small Acreage Cover Crop Program. Funded practices include: 

  • Summer Cover Crops planted following a small grain harvest or as part of a summer field rest.
  • Cover Crop Mixes with less than 50% grass.
  • Legumes for Crop Nitrogen that are in flower before termination. 
  • Cover Crops Planted into Standing Crops before August 1.
  • Cover Crops Interseeded into wide crop rows.
  • Early Termination of Grasses in a cover crop mix that includes legumes. 
  • Cover Crops for Grazing Animals—adaptive/rotational grazing required; includes annuals planted into perennial pasture using no-till practices.
  • Additionally, we will accept alternative cover cropping scenarios supported by an approved Technical Service Provider (TSP) or supporting resource. See the application for a list of TSPs and resources.

Rate Chart

Base Rate – $40 per acre per year

Add Diversity to Crop Rotation – $15 acre 

Summer Bonus – $15 acre 

Biomass Bonus – $15.00 Acre

Nitrogen Reduction Bonus – $15 acre – Use the PSNT to determine nutrient applications and timing for corn fields that have received organic nitrogen sources

Program Details

You submit a signed application​ along with:
  • A 3-year management plan. At least 2 of the 3 years require scenarios not supported by other MDA cover crop programs. 
  • Field maps.
  • Grazing plan if grazing the cover crop.
  • Letter of support if working with a Technical Service Provider.
  • Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis.
  • You agree to plant cover crops on the same fields for 3 consecutive years.
  • Fall cover crops must be planted by October 1 of each year.
  • You  must plant a cover crop mix containing at least 50% cereal grains and 25% legumes. 
  • This program uses the same species and seeding rates as Maryland’s traditional Cover Crop Program.
  • A cash crop is:
    • Planted directly into a living cover crop in the spring, or
    • The cover crop is terminated no earlier than one week before the cash crop is planted.
  • Tillage is limited to no-till or conservation till throughout the 3-year contract. ​
  • You may enroll up to 500 acres in this program.

 

Hairy Vetch

Requirements

  • You may enroll 10 to 500 acres in this program. 
  • You must plant the cover crop no later than November 5, unless the planting is part of an approved scenario supported by a Technical Service Provider.
  • You may terminate the cover crop no earlier than April 15, unless summer planted or as part of an approved scenario supported by a Technical Service Provider.
  • Seeding rates and mix calculations must follow NRCS Technical Guidelines, unless an alternative scenario supported by your Technical Service Provider or supporting resource is approved.

Bonus Payments

  • ​Diversity Bonus—Three (3) or more species are planted from three (3) or more functional groups (Grass, Legume, Forb, Brassica). If planting legumes for nitrogen, two different legume species and one species from a different functional group is permitted.  ​   
  • Summer Bonus—The cover crop is planted after a small grain or after a fall/winter cover crop for field rest.
  • Nitrogen Reduction Bonus—Provide documentation showing at least a 15% reduction in commercial fertilizer application from the prior year’s baseline.
  • Biomass Bonus—Delay termination until a minimum biomass yield of 2,000 pounds per acre dry matter ​is documented.

Eligibility

  • 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 grant programs.
  • You must submit a current Nutrient Management Plan Certification Form with your application.
  • Additional restrictions may apply.

How to Apply for Cover Crop Plus

  • The application materials can be submitted online OR Submit your application materials to Nick Miller, Healthy Soils Program Administrator, at nicholas.miller2@maryland.gov or mail to:
    Nick Miller
    Healthy Soils Program Administrator
    Maryland Department of Agriculture
    50 Harry S Truman Parkway
    Annapolis, MD 21401
  •  

VISIT MDA WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

COVER CROP PLUS MDA INFORMATION SHEET

Sign up is once each year around the end of June/beginning of July in conjunction with the regular Cover Crop Program.