Sign-Up Ongoing at Local Soil Conservation Districts
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 21, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds farmers that cost-share funding is available to help transport and inject all types of liquid manure into their fields to lower the potential for nutrient runoff to surface waters and reduce on-farm odors.
Funding is available for spring or fall-planted crops and may be used to transport manure, hire custom operators, rent or lease equipment, or offset operating costs associated with injecting liquid manure into the soil. Cost-share grants to transport dairy and livestock manure pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs. Eligible farmers receive up to $45 an acre in cost-share to inject liquid manure into the soil based on a maximum application rate of 6,000 gallons/acre. Rates for manure transport are based on the distance between the manure source and the field.
The department’s Conservation Grants Program administers manure transport and injection grants. Applicants must be in good standing with the program and in compliance with Maryland’s nutrient management regulations. Key points of the grant include:
All spring manure injection and transport must be completed by June 30, 2023
- Claims for payment must be received by the department’s Conservation Grants Office by July 31, 2023
- Contact your local soil conservation district for summer/fall injection and transport deadlines
Farmers should apply for manure injection and dairy/livestock transport grants through their local soil conservation district. Please visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture website to download an application to apply for FastTrack grants to haul poultry litter, which is not eligible for injection, due to its low moisture content. Farmers may also contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Manure Management Program at 410-841-5864 with questions.
###
Follow MDA on Twitter @MdAgDept
