Reimbursement
Small Acreage Cover Crop Program
Maryland Department of Agriculture, Small Farm and Urban Agriculture Program
What you can get
Up to $1,500 per grower per year • Reimburses paid receipts for cover crop seed (including shipping), labor capped at $15/hour, custom services, and equipment rental. Cover crops may go in open plots, raised beds, or high tunnels. Funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Fills the gap left by the main Maryland Cover Crop Program, which excludes these operations.
- Readiness
- Ready to apply
- Who can apply
- producer, Maryland urban growers and small scale farmers planting fewer than 10 acres of cover crops whose operation produces at least $1,000 in annual sales or donations
- Coverage
- MD
- Deadline & timing
- Due April 24, 2026. The 2026 sign-up ran March 16 – April 24, 2026 and is closed. Annual cycle — expect the next sign-up around March 2027.
- Eligibility
- Eligible applicants: producer, Maryland urban growers and small-scale farmers planting fewer than 10 acres of cover crops whose operation produces at least $1,000 in annual sales or donations.
cover cropsoil healthwater qualitybeginning farmer
Last verified Aug 18, 2026. Always confirm current terms and deadlines on the official site before applying.
Plan your next step
Run a quick soil assessment or ask an agronomist how this program fits your fields.