COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The University of Maryland Extension (UME) has launched a new advanced cover crop initiative.

The new project is designed to shift the Maryland farmer paradigm of cover crops as a “defensive” conservation practice to an “offensive” agronomic practice to benefit current and future production efficiency while simultaneously advancing water quality improvement and soil health outcomes.

In collaboration with long term partner Future Harvest (FH), consultation from Colorado State University (CSU) Institute for Research in the Social Sciences, and matching support from Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), UME received a grant endowed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant Program. The award is to expand the adoption of cover crops throughout the Chesapeake Bay region by focusing on site-specific, purposeful cover cropping to optimize agronomic and environmental benefits.

Livestock, grain and specialty crop farmers, including small acreage and urban producers, will be invited to apply to participate in the project. Interested farmers will choose from a list of cover cropping practices and will be offered a free consultation to identify which practice or combination of practices will best address the needs of their crop fields. Farmers accepted into the program will be provided with financial payment. The project runs to December 31, 2027. For more information contact shirsh@umd.edu or 410 651-1350.