11/05/02
Farmers who have been approved to participate in the Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share (MACS) Winter Cover Crop Program have until Nov. 11 to complete seeding, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Hagner R. Mister announced. The original Nov. 1 planting deadline was extended to Nov. 11 because recent rains have prevented farmers from harvesting summer crops and seeding winter cover crops.
“While it is important to get the cover crop seed planted in a timely manner, farmers simply have not been able to get out in the fields because of recent soaking rains,” said Mister. “We want to give farmers every opportunity to get their cover crops in the ground so that excess nutrients are absorbed and do not run off into waterways.”
All Nov. 1 cover crop planting dates were extended. Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland farmers have until Nov. 11 to plant rye, triticale and wheat. Farmers in Central and Western Maryland have until Nov. 11 to plant their rye crop.
Farmers now will have until Nov. 14 to certify seeded acres with their local soil conservation districts.
Established in 1983, MACS provides farmers with financial assistance to install pollution prevention practices, such as cover crops, to protect water quality. The cover crop program reimburses Maryland farmers who plant cover crops such as rye, wheat, barley, spring oats and triticale (rye/wheat hybrid).