$364,700 Grants Awarded for Agricultural Conservation Innovation

Funding for Further Development and Testing of Multi-State Nutrient Trading Tool in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Aug. 17, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) received a two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants totaling $364,700 that  build on previous funding to develop a nutrient trading program in Maryland and use that new technology to assess and inventory farm conservation practices.

“When finished, this work should lead to opportunities for farmers to receive income for implementing and maintaining the practices that will generate tradable nutrient credits,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “Nutrient trading offers an innovative approach to promoting more productive and efficient land use while meeting Maryland’s water quality goals.”

The $264,700 State Conservation Innovation Grant will enable MDA to help in assessing compliance with TMDLs by utilizing an on-farm nutrient calculation tool and documenting farmers’ voluntary conservation practices.

The $100,000 State Conservation Innovation Grant builds on earlier awards by funding a partnership to develop, test and rollout a multi-state water quality trading program for the Chesapeake Bay. Extending and complementing efforts to create a nutrient trading program that will eventually lead to a comprehensive ecosystem marketplace in Maryland, this project encompasses Maryland and the Bay states Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia that share the NutrientNet platform.  Under the management of the World Resources Institute, the project will also develop a carbon estimation tool and a farm profit calculator to help landowners, producers, and service providers conduct cost benefit analyses of trading participation.

The Maryland Nutrient Trading Program and its web-based marketplace and trading registry will be going live later this month and information about the program is available online at www.mdnutrienttrading.com.  When activated, this site will enable users to not only establish baseline eligibility and credit potential, but also record approved credits, conduct trading activity, and manage individual accounts.

Conservation Innovation Grants are administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and aimed toward enhancing the delivery of conservation programs to farmers and landowners.

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