{"id":21170,"date":"2017-04-20T10:16:38","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T14:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=21170"},"modified":"2017-04-20T10:38:39","modified_gmt":"2017-04-20T14:38:39","slug":"21170","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2017\/04\/20\/21170\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Farmers Break Cover Crop Planting Record\u2026 Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exceed 500,000 Acre Milestone<\/em><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Credit: Edwin Remsberg<\/p><\/div>\n

ANNAPOLIS, MD<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Maryland farmers planted a record-setting nearly 560,000 acres of cover crops on their fields last fall as part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture\u2019s 2016-2017 Cover Crop Program, breaking the previous record of 501,204 acres planted last year. Cover crops are widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable ways for farmers to meet nutrient and sediment reduction targets outlined in Maryland\u2019s Watershed Implementation Plan to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay by 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last several years, our cover crop program has really taken off as more and more farmers reap the agronomic and environmental benefits of including these hardworking crops in their planting rotations,\u201d said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. \u201cFor a second year, farmers have exceeded 500,000 acres planted. For the past seven years, farmers have consistently exceeded the Bay milestone goal for this important best management practice.”<\/p>\n

In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established nutrient and sediment limits for the Chesapeake Bay known as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Maryland and the other Bay jurisdictions are working to meet these pollution thresholds by implementing their Watershed Implementation Plans.<\/p>\n

Governor Larry Hogan included an additional $2.5 million in his supplemental budget to pay for the record cover crops acres planted by farmers this year. Cover crops are one of the most cost effective practices to help the State reach its Chesapeake Bay clean up goals. During budget deliberations, the legislature cut the funding for this important program.<\/p>\n

The Maryland Department of Agriculture\u2019s Cover Crop Program provides grants to farmers who plant small grains such as wheat, rye or barley, or brassicas (plants in the cabbage family) on their fields following the fall harvest. Grants help offset seed, labor and equipment costs associated with planting cover crops.\u00a0\u00a0In 2015, cover crop mixes containing legumes were introduced to help create diversity and give farmers more planting options.\u00a0 As they grow, cover crops protect water quality by recycling unused plant nutrients remaining in the soil from the preceding summer crop. Once established, cold-hardy cover crops work all winter to shield fields against erosion caused by wind, rain, snow and ice. Collectively, the nearly 560,000 acres of cover crops planted will prevent an estimated 3.36 million pounds of nitrogen, and 112,000 pounds of phosphorus from reaching Maryland waterways.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for a breakdown by county of acreage planted. The top counties ranked by certified acreage planted:<\/p>\n