The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced today that its popular Conservation Buffer Initiative will offer eligible farmers a one-time signing bonus of $1,000 per acre to plant new forest buffers adjacent to cropland and streams on working farms. Grant applications will be accepted from November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027 at local soil conservation district offices.
Maryland’s Tree Solutions Now Act established the 5 Million Trees Initiative, which challenges Marylanders to plant five million native trees across the state by 2031 to improve water quality, climate resilience and human health.
“Maryland farmers have shown their dedication to conservation and this additional incentive makes practices such as planting forest buffers more achievable," said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. "Protecting our land, water and the Chesapeake Bay is everyone's responsibility and we are proud to invest in farmers who turn that shared commitment into action.”
Now in its seventh year, Maryland’s Conservation Buffer Initiative provides farmers with attractive incentive payments to plant buffers along streams and cropland to improve water quality and support the State’s climate goals. Three types of buffers are eligible for funding and free technical assistance under this program:
- Forest buffers planted next to waterways adjacent to cropland.
- Grass buffers planted next to waterways or field ditches adjacent to cropland.
- Watercourse access control areas adjacent to pastures.
Source : maryland.gov