State Program Overview

NRCS has been bolstering locally led conservation and expanding partnerships through the RCPP since its inception in 2014. Maryland currently offers 7 RCPP projects that leverage partner funds to support out-of-the box solutions to today’s conservation concerns.

State Priorities

Maryland's resource priorities are:

• Water Quality
• Soil Health
• Wetland Restoration and Easements
• Land Easements
• Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species
• Air Quality

Current Projects

Achieving WIP Goals and Nutrient Management in Maryland- This is a Critical Conservation Area (CCA) RCPP project to promote a cost effective and nutrient effective solution to address manure management and related resource concerns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The overall project success will be based on reducing the best management practice (BMP) gap for the Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and increasing nutrient management regulation compliance in northern Maryland. 

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Allegany, Baltimore, Cecil, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett (Ches. Bay watershed only), Harford, and Washington. 

Practices eligible for funding include: Comprehensive nutrient management plan (102), grazing management plans (110), waste storage facility (313), animal mortality facility (316), composting facility (317), cover crop (340), critical area planting (342), waste facility closure (360), diversion (362), roofs and covers (367), fencing (382), riparian forest buffer (391), grade stabilization structure (410), grassed waterway (412), lined waterway or outlet (468), access control (472), mulching (484), obstruction removal (500), forage and biomass planting (512), livestock pipeline (516), prescribed grazing (528), pumping plant (533), roof runoff structure (558), access road (560), heavy use area protection (561), spring development (574), trails and walkways (575), stream crossing (578), streambank and shoreline protection (580), structure for water control (587), nutrient management (590), subsurface drain (606), tree/shrub establishment (612), watering facility (614), underground outlet (620), waste separation facility (632), waste transfer (634), and water well (642).

Connecting Small and Urban Farms in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. Urban Corridor with Conservation Resources- This project connects urban farmers with NRCS and partner conservation resources. It seeks to increase the number of historically underserved farmers that benefit from conservation and partner infrastructure program funding. 

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, District of Columbia, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s.

Engaging Small Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) in the Nutrient Management Planning Process- This project seeks to reduce nutrient and sediment loss associated with small dairy AFOs by encouraging the development and implementation of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. It is available to small dairy operations interested in developing comprehensive nutrient management plans and implementing plan practices, including waste storage structures, animal mortality facilities, heavy use areas, barnyard runoff practices, animal exclusion practices, and enhanced nutrient management (such as manure injection), among others.

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Carroll, Frederick, and Washington.

ESLC Land Protection Initiative- In partnership with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), this project seeks to increase land protection in the Delmarva region through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The primary easement purposes for this project include both working lands preservation and habitat preservation or creation to enhance the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For water quality, all easements will require 100 foot naturally vegetated buffers along all tidal waterways, with project selection preference going to properties along the Sassafras River and the Chesapeake Bay. 

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Cecil and Kent. 

Grazing for Water Quality & Soil Health- In partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, this multi-state RCPP project seeks to increase the adoption of complementary practices like livestock stream exclusion, off-stream watering, and forested buffers in the northern tier counties in Maryland to reduce nutrients and sediment runoff and help with the Chesapeake Bay clean-up.

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington. 

Million Acre Challenge- This project helps farmers throughout Maryland to build soil health, increase farm profitability, and improve water quality while making their farms resilient in the face of climate change. The goal is to have one million agricultural acres in Maryland using healthy soil techniques throughout the Chesapeake Bay region by 2030.

Available for eligible producers in all Maryland counties. 

Practices eligible for funding include (subject to change): Grazing management plan (110), soil health management plan (116), grazing management design (159), soil health management design (162), soil testing (216), brush management (314), herbaceous weed control (315), conservation cover (327), conservation crop rotation (328), residue and tillage management, no till (329), cover crop (340),  critical area planting (342), reduced till (345), windbreak/shelterbelt establishment (380), fence (382), field border (386), grassed waterway (412), access control (472), mulching (484), tree/shrub site preparation (490), forage harvest management (511), pasture and hay planting (512), livestock pipeline (516), prescribed grazing (528), pumping plant (533), heavy use area protection (561), stream crossing (578), streambank and shoreline protection (580), nutrient management (590), integrated pest management (595), tree/shrub establishment (612), watering facility (614), upland wildlife habitat management (645), and soil carbon amendment practice standard (808). Associated Enhancements to the above practices are included.

Maryland Clean Water Commerce Outcomes Project (Alternative Funding Arrangement)- This project has four goals: 1. Match $5 million in funding from the State of Maryland to pay farmers for nitrogen pollution reductions in service of the state’s Watershed Improvement Plan, which ultimately supports achieving the agriculture sector’s Chesapeake Bay TMDLs. 2. Demonstrate the effectiveness of a breakout state program--the Clean Water Commerce Act—that employs pay-for-success contracting with agricultural producers to achieve nutrient reductions. 3. Demonstrate the scalability of a fully operational program that goes beyond experimental pilots and pays farmers through matching state and federal funding. 4. Expand access by more Maryland farmers—including historically underserved farmers—to additional financial assistance to support implementation of nutrient reduction best practices.

Available for eligible producers in all Maryland counties.

How to Apply

Partners - NRCS will release an announcement for program funding, that will outline requirements for proposal submissions for funding. NRCS will review partnership proposals according to the priorities identified in the announcement and make project selections. Upon selection of a partnership proposal, NRCS and the partner will enter into a partnership agreement through which they will coordinate to provide producers in the project area assistance. Learn how to apply for RCPP.

Producers – NRCS accepts producer applications for existing RCPP project funds throughout the year, but funding decisions are made on specific dates.  The fiscal year 2026 application cutoff date is December 1, 2025. Additional cutoff dates may be added based on funding availability. Contact your local Service Center to learn more.