The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites applications from interested producers and organizations wishing to take the next step in improving soil health.
Donor Name: Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Healthy Soils Competitive Fund seeks to strengthen that leadership. Producers will be able to propose new and innovative management of eligible conservation practices that will work for their farms, amplifying their proven stewardship of soil and water resources. Healthy soils have climate and water quality benefits, can improve farm profitability, and improve resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Types of Projects
Financial assistance is available to manage conservation practices in new and innovative ways that improve soil health, yield, and profitability and capture carbon.
Eligible soil health 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
- NEW: Soil Carbon Amendment
Eligible agroforestry practices include:
- Alley Cropping
- Hedgerow Planting
- Silvopasture
- Tree and Shrub Establishment
- Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
Funding Information
Maximum award of $50,000 to support 3 years of new and innovative conservation practice management.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are eligible to apply – Individual farmers operating in Maryland, groups of farmers operating in Maryland, and individuals or organizations conducting research with farmers in Maryland. Participating farmers will need to be identified by the applicant and included in the project narrative.
For more information, visit MDA.