Maryland farmers have always been concerned whether regulatory rules for fall nutrient and cover crop applications could be flexible enough to be practical. So far, state Department of Agriculture administrators have laid those concerns to rest.

SEEDING/FEEDING TIME: Maryland farmers get extra “grace” period for seeding cover crops and applying fall nutrients.

Due to a late harvest and lack of adequate liquid manure storage, plus mild fall weather, the Department of Agriculture recently extended the cover crop planting deadline and two deadlines for fall nutrient applications. Maryland farmers who signed up to plant cover crops this fall with the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program now have until 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. Note: That extension doesn’t apply to legume/small grain mixes. It’s only available to those planting wheat, rye or triticale using no-till or conventional tillage, or broadcasting with light, minimum or vertical tillage.

Farmers must certify their MACS cover crop acreage with their local soil conservation district by Nov. 18 to be eligible for cost-share to offset their associated seed, labor and equipment costs.

2 cutoff date changes for nutrient
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the deadline for all nutrient applications, including commercial fertilizer and poultry litter, has been extended from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15 to allow farmers more time to fertilize late-planted crops. That deadline is consistent with the nutrient cutoff 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 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 Nov. 15 to Dec. 3. After that date, farmers won’t be able to spread manure on their fields until March 1. The extension doesn’t 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 telephone number for the headquarters is 410-841-5959 and full listing is provided online.