Conservation Buffer Initiative supports Maryland farmers and landowners in establishing or improving farm buffers to protect local streams, improve water quality, and support Chesapeake Bay health.
Applications for the 2026–2027 Conservation Buffer Initiative open November 1, 2026, with an April 30, 2027 deadline, replacing the closed 2025–2026 round and its April 30, 2026 deadline. Contact your local soil conservation district to apply.
Maryland's Conservation Buffer Initiative supports farmers and landowners in creating or improving farmland buffers to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff and protect local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
Tree Planting Incentives support Maryland farmers and landowners planting new trees through agricultural conservation practices to advance the state’s tree-planting goal and capture greenhouse gas emissions.
The Maryland Farm Stewardship Program funds tree planting and conservation practices to improve water quality and wildlife habitat on Maryland farms, led by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
CREP Signing Bonus supports Maryland farmers and landowners planting riparian forest buffers on environmentally sensitive land to promote clean water, healthy soil, and protection for wildlife.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) by the Maryland Department of Agriculture funds landowners to restore sensitive land with science-based conservation practices for water quality and wildlife habitat.