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COVER CROP GRANT APPROVAL LETTERS IN THE MAIL
MDA is pleased to announce that more than 1,300 farmers have signed up for our grants to help offset the costs of planting cover crops in their fields this fall to benefit soil and water quality. Farmers should check their mailboxes for their award letters and planting instructions.
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HEALTHY SOILS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
MDA's Healthy Soils Competitive Fund has awarded $590,000 in grants to 14 projects. This pioneering program helps farms and organizations of all sizes adopt new conservation methods that benefit climate, soil, and water quality.
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVES FORWARD IN MARYLAND
Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order establishing a more unified approach to promoting environmental justice in Maryland. The Valuing Opportunity, Inclusion, and Community Equity order will help foster a whole-of-government approach to advance meaningful engagement with communities that have historically borne a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution.
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This 2021 Maryland Farm and Harvest video features Harford County farmer Lee McDaniel, who takes viewers on a tour of his historic Indian Spring Farm in Darlington – a place where French troops once camped during the Revolutionary War on their way to the decisive battle of Yorktown.
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MARYLAND PERMANENTLY PRESERVES 19 ADDITIONAL WORKING FARMS
In a continued effort to protect Maryland’s agricultural heritage, the Maryland Board of Public Works has approved 19 new easements through the Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation, adding approximately 1,674 acres of preserved prime farmland across Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Washington, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Charles, and Worcester counties.
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MD REPORTS SLIGHT LOSS IN UNDERWATER GRASS ABUNDANCE
Underwater grass abundance in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay – a key indicator of water quality – fell from 38,188 acres in 2023 to 36,794 acres in 2024, according to data reviewed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
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DRONES IN AGRICULTURE
Join UME educators and specialists to learn about the use of drones in agronomic production systems. This course provides an introduction to drones, including an equipment overview, data collection from seeding cover crops and spraying pesticides with drones, and guidance on what you need to operate legally. It also features live drone demonstrations. The workshops will be held at the Harford County Extension office on August 21 and the Charles County Soil Conservation Office on August 26.
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Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order to promote Maryland’s agricultural sector and expand economic opportunities for Maryland’s farmers. Learn more.
Secretary Kevin Atticks was recently selected to serve as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA). As president, Secretary Atticks will welcome other Commissioners and Secretaries throughout the Southern States to Maryland during SASDA's 2026 Annual Conference. Learn more.
A big shoutout to Maryland's Envirothon team from North Harford High School, who finished 2nd at the NCF-Envirothon competition in Alberta, Canada, last month with an impressive score of 619.67—just one point shy of first place! The weeklong environmental competition featured 50 teams from the United States, Canada, and China. The Maryland team's impressive stats included the high scores in aquatics and wildlife. See the scoresheet.
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NEED HELP WITH A CONSERVATION PROJECT?
Please contact your local soil conservation district for additional information on MDA conservation programs, grants, and services.
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