PROGRAM OVERVIEW

NEW for this year, the Maryland Cover Crop Program includes a special Commodity Cover Crop option for eligible fields located within the King’s Creek or Williston Lake/Watts Creek sub-watersheds of the Upper Choptank Watershed.

The Commodity Cover Crop Program allows operators in these specific sub-watersheds to plant approved commodity cover crops for harvest. Acres enrolled under this option are capped at a maximum payment of $25 per acre and are not eligible for additional incentives, early planting bonuses, or multi-species mix incentive payments.

Operators should also note that acres declared as commodity cover crop acres are not eligible for fall manure application. This restriction applies even though fall-applied non-poultry manure may be allowed under the standard Maryland Cover Crop Program requirements in other situations.

All other base requirements of the 2026–2027 Maryland Cover Crop Program remain in effect. This includes nutrient management compliance, seed standards, approved planting methods, certification deadlines, acreage requirements, and program verification procedures.

Key reminders include:

  • Eligible commodity cover crop acres must be located within the King’s Creek or Williston Lake/Watts Creek sub-watersheds of the Upper Choptank Watershed.

  • Payment is capped at $25 per acre.

  • No additional incentives or bonuses apply to these acres.

  • Fall manure application is not allowed on commodity cover crop acres.

  • No commercial nutrients may be applied to enrolled acres before March 1, 2027.

  • A minimum of 10 acres must be requested.

  • Planting must be certified with the either Talbot Soil Conservation District or Caroline Soil Conservation District, depending on where most of the crops are planted, within one week of planting.

  • Final certification documents, including signed seed tags and FSA maps, must be submitted to the either Talbot SCD or Caroline SCD no later than December 1, 2026.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

CONTACT

Evan Miles
Landowner Assistance Coordinator
evan.miles@maryland.gov
(443) 746-4320

DISTRICT OFFICES

Talbot SCD
28577 Marys Ct, Ste 3
Easton, MD 21601
(410) 822-1577 x 3

Caroline SCD
9194 Legion Road, Ste 3
Denton, MD 21629
(410) 479-1202