Md Agricultural Water Quality Cost Share Program
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Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program

 

General Description

The Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share Program (MACS) can provide up to 87.5% of the cost to install eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality. Stream protection practices including riparian buffers, stream crossings, stream fencing, and alternative watering sources are among the 29 BMPs eligible for cost-share funds. MACS is administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture working in cooperation with the local Soil Conservation Districts (SCDs).

Funding and Assistance Availability

The MACS program is available to any agricultural producer. Costs for installing BMPs vary depending on the site, the scope of the problem, and local construction costs. Funding is available for animal waste treatment and containment projects – up to $50,000 per farm, with a maximum of $65,000 per farm when animal waste storage is combined with other BMPs. For all other BMPs, funding is available up to $10,000 per project, with a maximum of $35,000 per farm; or up to $20,000 per project under a pooling agreement to solve a pollution problem on two or more farms. A flat rate ceiling applies to all BMP components. Under the ceiling, average allowable rates for materials and services required to install BMPs are established annually for each county. There is open enrollment for this program.

Baltimore Soil Conservation District

Agricultural Building

9831 Van Buren Lane

Cockeysville, Md. 21030-5022

(410)-666-1188

 

This page was last updated 07/01/00

       The Forest Conservancy District Board for Baltimore County

9405 Old Harford Road

Baltimore, Maryland 21234

(410) 665-5820 

Email Robert Prenger ....... rprenger@dnr.state.md.us

 Melvin Noland ....... mlnoland@bcpl.net