Attention Farmers! Fall Nutrient Application Deadline is Nov. 15
Annapolis, MD – Due to a late harvest and lack of adequate storage for liquid manure, combined with favorable soil conditions, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has extended the cover crop planting deadline and two key deadlines for nutrient applications this fall.
Cover Crop Program
Farmers who signed up to plant cover crops this fall with the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program now have until Tuesday, Nov. 15, to plant qualifying small grains to help control soil erosion and recycle unused plant nutrients remaining in their fields following the harvest of summer crops. The extension is only available to farmers who plant wheat, rye or triticale using the following planting methods: no till, conventional, or broadcast with light, minimum or vertical tillage. It does not apply to legume/small grain mixes.
Farmers must certify their cover crop acreage with their local soil conservation district by Friday, Nov. 18 to be eligible for cost-share to offset associated seed, labor and equipment costs.
Maryland’s Cover Crop program is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund. For additional information on the Cover Crop Program, farmers should visit their local soil conservation district or contact the MACS office at 410-841-5864.
Fall Nutrient Applications
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the deadline for all nutrient applications, including commercial fertilizer and poultry litter, has been extended from Tuesday, Nov. 1 to Tuesday, Nov. 15 to allow farmers more time to fertilize crops that will be planted later this fall. The November 15 deadline is consistent with the nutrient cut-off date that farmers are required follow in all other areas of the state. After this date, farmers will be prohibited from spreading commercial fertilizer and stackable manure on fields until Tuesday, March 1.
To allow farmers extra time to empty their waste storage structures in preparation for winter, the Department also has extended the deadline for the fall application of liquid manure on dairy farms and other livestock operations from Tuesday, Nov. 15 to Thursday, Dec. 3. After this date, farmers will not be able to spread manure on their fields until Tuesday, March 1. The extension does not apply to dry, stackable manure or poultry litter.
Farmers or nutrient applicators with questions should call their nutrient management consultant or regional nutrient management specialist. The headquarters telephone number is 410-841-5959 and full listing is provided online.
