Talbot Soil Conservation District

2008 / 2009 Cover Crop PROGRAM

SIGNUP PERIOD: JUNE 23RD – JULY 8TH

COVER CROP PAYMENT SCALE
FOR BARLEY, WHEAT, RYE, OATS, TRITICALE, AND RYEGRASS

COVER CROP PAYMENT SCALE
FOR RAPE/CANOLA

*BROADCAST STALKCHOP BEHIND CORN ONLY

COVER CROP SEEDING RATES AND PLANTING DATES

* AERIAL SEEDING RATES MUST BE INCREASED BY 25%

ELIGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be in good standing with the MACS Program
• Must be in compliance with MDA’s Nutrient Management Program
• Must enroll a minimum of 5 acres

TRADITIONAL COVER CROP PROGRAM:

• No acreage Limit
• First come first serve basis
• Crops eligible are listed above
• Seeding rates and planting dates are listed above
• Payment scales are listed above
• No nitrogen or phosphorus may be applied prior to March 1st 2009*
• Liquid or slurry manure may be applied to cover crops if produced with the operation, does not have adequate winter storage, and is covered under the Nutrient Management Plan for the operation
• All seed must be Maryland Certified seed or seed tested for restricted and/or noxious weeds, purity and germination
• Seed must be tested prior to planting
• Applicant must report the planting of the cover crop within a week of planting deadlines to be eligible for planting date incentives with the final day of fall certification of Nov. 12th 2008
• At least 20% of acreage will be spot checked in the fall to certify planting dates and methods
• Between March 1st 2009 and June 1st 2009, the cover crop must be suppressed by one of the following methods:
• Worked in
• Sprayed with a herbicide
• Green chopped (for use within the operation only)
• Grazing alone is not an acceptable method of suppression
• Once the crop has been destroyed, the applicant must report these acres and fill out a claim for payment in order to receive payment

COMMODITY COVER CROP PROGRAM:

• 300 acre limit with additional acreage available on a stand-by basis
• First come first serve
• Crops eligible are listed above
• Seeding rates and planting dates are listed above
• $30/acre base payment
• An additional $5/ac bonus for Rye
• No nitrogen or phosphorus may be applied prior to March 1st 2009
• All seed must be Maryland Certified seed or seed tested for restricted and/or noxious weeds, purity and germination
• Seed must be tested prior to planting
• Applicant must report the planting of the cover crop within a week of planting deadlines to be eligible for planting date incentives with the final day of fall certification of Nov. 12th 2008
• At least 20% of acreage will be spot checked in the fall to certify planting dates
• Payment will be made with the fall certification of the crop

MAJOR CHANGES FOR 2008-2009:

• No seed invoices or bills will be required
• $15/sample cost share is available for seed samples sent to MDA’s seed lab to offset increase of sampling rate
• Spring spot checks will be made to ensure compliance
• No fall payments for Traditional Cover Crop Program
• An additional $10/acre is available for Priority Watersheds

COVER CROP INFORMATION LINKS:

• Maryland Department of Agriculture Cover Crop Program
• Information in PDF file format
• Cover Crop Calculator(.xls)
• Priority Watershed Map by Acreage (.pdf)

2007/2008 Program Archives

Talbot County Farmers have done it again!

On Monday January 28th, during the meeting of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost Share Program awarded the Talbot Soil Conservation District a cerficate of excellence for having the most cover crop acres fall certified. Therefore, over the past year Talbot County farmers have enjoyed the title of being 1st overall in acres planted for the Cover Crop program. Farmers should be proud to know that even though Talbot is considered one of the smallest counties in Maryland, it still very alive with agriculture. Congratulations.

GIS Imagery for 2007/2008 Cover Crop:

• Cover Crop (Traditional & Harvest) (PDF)
• Cover Crop by Planting Method (PDF)
• Cover Crop by Watersheds (PDF)
• Cover Crop within the Critical Area (PDF)
• Cover Crop vs. Total Cropland (PDF)

Talbot County Cover Crop 2007/2008 Statistics:
Total Acres: 24,812.3 ac.

• Aerial - 3,815.5 ac.
• Broadcast - 5,273.9 ac.
• Broadcast Stalk Chop - 1,823.1 ac.
• Conventional Tillage - 1,389.3 ac.
• No-Tillage - 10,801.8 ac.