Take Action Now to support the expansion of the Maryland Agriculture Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program (HB687/SB597)!

Maryland spends approximately $30 million per year for conservation measures on farms. About 80% of these funds pay for “annual” management practices while payments for cost-effective, longer term practices like pastures and forest buffers are drastically reduced. Farmers interested in these soil and climate-friendly projects deserve reliable and equitable access to state cost-share assistance.

What we want to see from the MACS program:

• More funding for rotational grazing, stream buffers, wetlands and trees

• No cost-share subsidies for new or expanding Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

• No more penalties for farmers planting mixed cover crop species