The Maryland Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers that the winter ban on spreading manure, food processing residuals (FPRs), and other nutrient sources on cropland begins on December 16, 2025. Farmers can resume spreading these materials on March 1, 2026, as long as they follow their nutrient management plan recommendations and ensure that fields are not saturated, snow-covered, or hard-frozen.
Maryland’s nutrient management regulations prohibit spreading of manure, food processing residuals, and other nutrient sources on fields during winter due to the increased risk of runoff into local waterways. Farmers are required to store liquid manure generated on their farms in designated structures.
Source : maryland.gov