Enrollment in Maryland Department of Agriculture's 2013-2014 Cover Crop Program runs June 24 through July 15 at soil conservation district offices statewide. This year, approximately $20 million is allocated for the popular conservation program.

The grants go to farmers who agree to plant fall cover crops to conserve nutrients, reduce soil erosion, and protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The three-week sign-up window will be the only one, note MDA officials.

HEADS UP! Drilling a cover crop this fall could be worth a minimum of $25 an acre or as much as $95 an acre to Maryland farmers who sign up.

Cover crops are one of the most cost effective practices for keeping nitrogen and phosphorus out of the Bay. For the third year in a row, Maryland farmers have planted more than 400,000 acres of protective cover crops on their farms. In 2013, farmers exceeded Maryland's 2013 Chesapeake Bay milestone commitment by 17%, according to Governor Martin O'Malley.

"The cover crop program is a mainstay of Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts," adds Ag Secretary Buddy Hance. "This year, the program takes on extra importance. Maryland's newly revised nutrient management regulations require farmers to plant cover crops when organic nutrient sources are applied to fields in the fall."

Cover your options
Choose from two management options – traditional or harvested cover crops. Traditional cover crops receive a base rate of $45 per acre plus up to $55 per acre in add-on incentives for using highly valued planting practices. These crops may not be harvested, but can be grazed or chopped for livestock forage for on-farm use after becoming well established.

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Harvested cover crops qualify for $25 per acre with a bonus payment of $10 per acre if rye is used as the cover crop.

You may fill out one application to enroll in both program options. There are no enrollment caps and certain restrictions apply.

Applicants must be in good standing with the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program to participate and must be in compliance with the Nutrient Management Program.

What's a cover crop?
By Maryland definition, cover crops are cereal grains and winter annual brassicas (plants in the cabbage family) that are planted to take up nutrients remaining in/on the soil after harvest of corn, soybeans, sorghum, tobacco or vegetables. Barley, canola, rapeseed, kale, rye, ryegrass, forage radish, spring oats, triticale and wheat planted this fall are eligible.

You may use saved seed. But all seed used is required to meet Maryland Seed Law and Regulatory Standards and have a minimum germination rate of 80%.

For more on cover crop strengths and weaknesses, see "Move to mixes for maximum benefits with cover crops" in the March issue of American Agriculturist, or click here .