Healthy Soils Competitive Fund
Healthy Soils Competitive Fund supports Maryland farmers and their partners in implementing innovative conservation practices to improve soil health and farm profitability, store carbon, and reduce emissions.
Funder: Maryland Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Applications open) | January 8, 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST (Full application) | Around March 31, 2027 (Award notifications)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 for three years
Summary: Supports Maryland farmers and their partners in implementing innovative conservation systems that improve soil health, capture carbon, and improve farm profitability.
Key Information: Current Nutrient Management Plan Certification is required at application, with no exceptions.
Description
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Competitive Fund supports new and innovative management of conservation practices on Maryland farms. Projects should minimize soil disturbance, maximize soil cover, enhance biodiversity, and increase living roots. The program aims to improve soil health, yield, and profitability while sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers, groups of farmers, and individuals or organizations working with Maryland farmers may apply.
The three-year grants support practice implementation, equipment, project-related staff time, and research. Supported approaches include cover cropping, reduced tillage, grazing management, diverse plantings, crop rotations, nutrient and pest management, and soil carbon amendments. The 2026–2027 cycle expands funding for agroforestry. Projects should represent a meaningful change in farm management and help build soil health knowledge across the agricultural community.
