8/13/02

By MARK POWELL

More than $1 million remains in Maryland Department of Agriculture coffers for the state’s cover crop cost-share program.
MDA stepped up efforts last week to let farmers know that money for the popular program remains. More than 500 farmers have applied so far with requests for about $1.7 million.
“The enrollment deadline for the cover crop program has been extended to Aug. 23,” said MDA’s Ed Sanders.
The cover crop program — available statewide — pays farmers $20 an acre to plant cover crops of wheat, rye, barley, oats or triticale following the harvest of corn or vegetables.
Sign up is handled through local soil conservation district offices.
Kent County leads the state in cover crop applications, with 61 as of Aug. 6. That covers 9,927 acres and is paying farmers $198,550. Other leading counties include Frederick, 54 applications on 7,856 acres; Dorchester, with 38 applications on 10,377 acres; Talbot, 7,756 acres, Queen Anne’s 7,039; and Wicomico, 7,322.3 acres.
Caroline County had 627 acres under the program.
Caroline County Extension ag agent Jim Lewis was recommending farmers plant cover crops, but in his latest newsletter to farmers he noted that cover crops may have actually hurt crop performance this year.
“This past winter was one of the few times that cover crops hurt yield,” Lewis wrote. “The cover crop pulled what little moisture there was from the subsoil. Normally, cover crops help dry out wet fields in the spring to improve soil condition for spring planting. However, with the little winter rainfall, the cover crops depleted soil moisture reserves.”
Lewis pointed out, however, “It is rare for Caroline County soils to not be too wet in February, March and April. Therefore, I would still recommend a cover crop, but if the subsoil is dry and the water table is low, I would recommend killing the cover crop extra early. The corn fields with only soybean stubble all winter and no cover or weeds were able to withstand the drought longer.”
Winter cover crops are supported by conservation groups and farmer organizations as a popular way to keep down wind and rain erosion during the winter. And, the cover crops help prevent nutrients from getting into Chesapeake Bay waterways where they can contribute to water quality problems.
For more information on the program, call MDA in Annapolis at (410) 841-5884.