The MACS SolutionToday’s farmers face a complicated array of

environmental laws and regulations that mayrequire them to install additional BMPs ontheir farms to protect water quality. Farmerslocated in the Chesapeake and Atlantic CoastalBays Critical Areas are required to install cer-tain BMPs as part of a larger, more comprehen-sive natural resources protection program. Newrules for Concentrated Animal FeedingOperations (CAFOs) and Maryland AnimalFeeding Operations (MAFOs) require certainlivestock producers toinstall advanced waterquality protectionmeasures. More recent-ly, Maryland’s revisedNutrient ManagementRegulations requirepasture-based opera-tions to install BMPssuch as watering facili-ties, livestock crossings,pasture managementtechniques or vegetative exclusion to furtherprotect streams from livestock impacts.Additionally, in 2016, Maryland will ban win-ter nutrient applications, creating an increasedneed for animal waste storage systems andmanure transport services.

In most instances, MACS can help. Manyof the BMPs that MACS supports reduce

soil and nutrient losses from farmfields, pastures, and environ-mentally sensitive areas.Others address barnyard man-agement and waste storageissues. Moreover, many of theBMPs financed by MACS willhelp Maryland meet the TotalMaximum Daily Load (TMDL)

of nutrient and sediment pollu-tion for the Bay established by the

Environmental Protection Agency.

Maryland’s 24 Soil Conservation Districts

MDA 15.04.13Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.

Maryland Department of AgricultureOffice of Resource ConservationConservation Grants Program50 Harry S. Truman ParkwayAnnapolis, MD 21401www.mda.maryland.gov

Martin O'Malley, GovernorAnthony G. Brown, Lt. GovernorEarl F. Hance, SecretaryMary Ellen Setting, Deputy Secretary

Allegany 301-777-1747, ext. 3Anne Arundel 410-571-6757Baltimore County 410-527-5920, ext. 3Calvert 410-535-1521, ext. 3Caroline 410-479-1202, ext. 3Carroll 410-848-8200, ext. 3Catoctin 301-695-2803, ext. 3Cecil 410-398-4411, ext. 3Charles 301-934-9588, ext. 3Dorchester 410-228-5640, ext. 3Frederick 301-695-2803, ext. 3Garrett 301-334-6950, ext. 3Harford 410-838-6181, ext. 3Howard 410-489-7987Kent 410-778-5150, ext. 3Montgomery 301-590-2855Prince George’s 301-574-5162, ext. 3Queen Anne’s 410-758-3136, ext. 3St. Mary’s 301-475-8402, ext. 3Somerset 410-651-1575, ext. 3Talbot 410-822-1577, ext. 3Washington County 301-797-6821, ext. 3Wicomico 410-546-4777, ext. 3Worcester 410-632-5439, ext. 3

Financial assistance provided by theCoastal Zone Management Act of 1972,as amended, administered by theOffice of Ocean and Coastal ResourceManagement, National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Waste Storage StructuresWaste Storage Structures

MACS Works for FarmersSince 1984, the Maryland Agricultural

Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program hasbeen providing farmers with grants to helpprotect natural resources on their farms, adoptsustainable agricultural practices and complywith a growing list of federal, state and localenvironmental requirements.

MACS provides farmers with conservationgrants that cover up to 87.5 percent of the costto install conservation measures known as bestmanagement practices (BMPs) on their farmsto prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients andsafeguard water quality in streams, rivers andthe Chesapeake Bay. Cover crops planted afterthe harvest to absorb unused crop fertilizers,streamside buffers of grasses and trees plantedto protect waterways from agricultural runoff,and animal waste systems designed to helpfarmers collect and use manure resources effi-ciently are among more than 25 BMPs current-ly eligible for funding.

Livestock CrossingLivestock Crossing

Heavy Use AreaHeavy Use Area

MarylandAgricultural WaterQuality Cost-ShareProgram

MarylandAgricultural WaterQuality Cost-ShareProgram

Providing grants to help farmersprotect natural resources andcomply with environmental lawsand regulations

EligibilityMACS is available to individuals, partner-

ships, corporations, trusts or other businessesthat operate a Maryland farm.

� Proposed projects must meet MACS eligibilityand cost-effectiveness requirements.

� Applicants must have an existing or poten-tially critical condition on agricultural landthat causes soil, nutrients or other pollutantsto enter state waters; or the proposed projectwill improve water quality.

� Applicants must be in compliance with theMaryland Nutrient Management Program.

Free Help Just Around the CornerEvery year, soil conservation districts help

Maryland farmers secure financial assistancefrom MACS to install BMPs on their farms.Located in every Maryland county, soil conser-vation districts–with technical guidance fromUSDA’s Natural Resources ConservationService–work with farmers free of charge, todesign BMPs, supervise their installation andconstruction, and develop operation and main-tenance plans to keep them in good workingorder. The SCD can also help farmers apply forlow interest loans to get a project started andfederal cost-share funds through USDA. Inmany instances USDA and MACS funds can becombined.

BMPS Eligible for MACS Funding Get Started, Get MACSFarmers should contact their local soil con-

servation district to determine the conserva-tion practices that will work best for their site.MACS applications must be approved by theMaryland Department of Agriculture throughthe local soil conservation district office beforebeginning a project.

Maximum Funding LevelsThe cost of installing BMPs varies from

project to project and site to site. The scope ofthe problem, site characteristics, and costeffectiveness of the proposed project are alltaken into consideration. The following maxi-mum funding levels are effective December 24,2012:

Animal Waste Management Systems

� Up to $200,000 per project, with a maxi-mum of $300,000 per farm

All Other BMPs

� Up to $50,000 per project, with a maximumof $150,000 per farm.

A flat rate ceiling applies to all BMP com-ponents. Allowable rates for materials andservices necessary to install a BMP are estab-lished annually by each county. Eligible costsare determined by applying the standard flatrates to the components approved for eachproject.

� Conservation Cover

� Cover Crops

� Critical Area Planting

� Dead Bird CompostingFacility

� Diversion

� Fencing

� Field Border

� Filter Strip

� Grade StabilizationStructure

� Grassed Waterway

� Heavy Use AreaProtection

� Lined Waterway orOutlet

� Manure Transport

� Riparian Forest Buffer

� Riparian HerbaciousCover

� Roof Runoff Structure

� Sediment Basin

� Sediment Control Pond

� Spring Development

� Stream Crossing

� Terrace System

� Waste StorageStructure

� Waste TreatmentLagoon

� Wastewater TreatmentStrip

� Water Control Structure

� Water Well

� Watering Facility

� Wetland Restoration

Watering TroughWatering Trough

Grassed WaterwayGrassed Waterway