Deadline: 7 March 2025
If you have an innovative conservation idea for your farm, then the Maryland’s Healthy Soils Competitive Funding Program is for you!
They provide financial assistance to qualifying farmers who want to adopt a range of soil health and agroforestry practices.
Funding Information
- The Healthy Soils Competitive Fund has a competitive application process with a maximum award of $50,000 to support 3 years of new and innovative conservation practice management.
Eligible Projects
- Eligible practices include:
- Cover Crops
- Conservation Tillage
- Pasture and Hay Planting
- Conservation Cover
- Critical Area Planting
- Conservation Crop Rotation
- Nutrient Management
- Integrated Pest Management
- Prescribed Grazing
- Soil Carbon Amendment
Eligibility Criteria
- The following are eligible to apply:
- Individual farmers operating in Maryland, groups of farmers operating in Maryland, and individuals or organizations working with farmers in Maryland.
- Participating farmers will need to be identified by the applicant and included in the project narrative.
- The eligible conservation practices are described on pages 4-5. Applicants may select one or more conservation practices.
- You must provide proof of compliance with Maryland’s nutrient management requirements when you submit your application.
Application requirements
- Applicants must be willing to allow MDA representatives and their designees to collect soil health assessment data, and the Maryland Soil Health Card on their farm operation.
- These expenses will be covered by MDA.
- Depending on the applicant’s goals, the project proposal may include other sampling and analysis activities at the applicant’s expense.
- The applicant should expect an annual site visit from MDA or their designee in the spring of each project year to verify practice implementation and discuss successes and challenges.
- Required documentation of project expenses and implementation records will be discussed prior to verification and detailed in the grant agreement.
For more information, visit Maryland Department of Agriculture.
