“There has been some confusion about the early kill down exception that we provide to farmers whose operations include vegetables, which are typically planted in February,” said MDA Secretary Buddy Hance. “Maryland’s Cover Crop Program will continue to allow farmers to kill down their cover crops as early as February 15 if they are planting vegetables by March 15.”

Farmers who are planting spring crops other than early vegetables do not qualify for this exception and will now have to wait until March 15 to kill down their cover crop fields.  This is a change from previous years when kill down could begin as early as March 1.  The change was made to extend the growing season for cover crops and achieve additional water quality benefits.  According to MDA planting records, in previous years only three to five percent of cover crops planted were killed before March 15.

Farmers who plan to incorporate manure or poultry litter into their cover crop fields in accordance with their farm’s nutrient management plan will also be exempted from the March 15 kill down requirement. These farmers may kill down their cover crop fields beginning March 1.

Farmers who are enrolled in the USDA cover crop option should check with their local NRCS office for program restrictions that prohibit kill down prior to March 15.

Cover crops are widely considered to be one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable ways to control soil erosion and reduce nutrient runoff in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries over the winter.  They are a key component of Maryland’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), which outlines measures for reducing the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment from entering the Chesapeake Bay.

Planted in the fall following the summer harvest, cover crops are cereal grains such as wheat, rye and barley that grow in cool weather.  They help slow down rainwater runoff during the winter when soil would otherwise be exposed, while recycling any nutrients remaining in the soil from the previous summer crop.  Last fall, Maryland farmers planted approximately 400,000 acres of cover crops on their fields to control soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality in streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.  It was the largest cover crop planting in Maryland history and will prevent an estimated 2.4 million pounds of nitrogen and 80,000 pounds of phosphorus from impacting the Bay and its tributaries.

Maryland’s Cover Crop Program is administered by MDA and the state’s 24 soil conservation districts through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program.  It is funded by the 2010 Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund.  Applicants must be in good standing with MACS to participate and must be in compliance with the Nutrient Management Program.  The sign up period for the 2011-2012 MACS Cover Crop Program will take place early this summer.