Department Offers Cost-Share Grants for Manure Injection

Sign-Up Ongoing at Local Soil Conservation Districts

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Agriculture is offering cost-share grants to help farmers cover the cost of injecting manure into cropland to lower the potential for nutrient runoff to surface waters and reduce on-farm odors.

Cost-share assistance is available to hire custom operators, rent or lease equipment, or offset operating costs associated with using equipment needed to inject liquid manure into the soil. Eligible farmers may receive up to $45 an acre in cost-share funds based on a maximum application rate of 6,000 gallons per acre. In addition, grants are available to haul manure. Rates for manure transport are based on the distance between the manure source and the field.

Manure injection and manure transport grants are administered by the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program. Applicants must be in good standing with the program and in compliance with Maryland’s Nutrient Management Regulations. All spring and summer injected manure must be completed by September 9 and all claims for payment received by October 9. Other restrictions apply.

Farmers should visit their local soil conservation district office as soon as possible to apply.

For more information, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5864.

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