State Program Overview

NRCS has been bolstering locally led conservation and expanding partnerships through the RCPP since its inception in 2014. Maryland currently offers four RCPP projects that leverage partner funds to support out-of-the box solutions to today’s conservation concerns.

State Priorities

Maryland's resource priorities are:

• Water Quality
• Soil Health
• Wetland Restoration and Easements
• Land Easements
• Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species
• Air Quality

Current Projects

RCPP Classic

Connecting Small and Urban Farms in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. Urban Corridor with Conservation Resources- This project connects urban farmers with NRCS and partner conservation resources. It seeks to increase the number of historically underserved farmers that benefit from conservation and partner infrastructure program funding. 

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, District of Columbia, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Wicomico, and Worcester. Applications are due by November 13, 2026 to be considered for 2027 funding.

Engaging Small Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) in the Nutrient Management Planning Process- This project seeks to reduce nutrient and sediment loss associated with small dairy AFOs by encouraging the development and implementation of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. It is available to small dairy operations interested in developing comprehensive nutrient management plans and implementing plan practices, including waste storage structures, animal mortality facilities, heavy use areas, barnyard runoff practices, animal exclusion practices, and enhanced nutrient management (such as manure injection), among others.

Available for eligible producers in the following counties: Carroll, Frederick, and Washington. Applications are due by November 13, 2026 to be considered for 2027 funding.

RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements

Maryland Clean Water Commerce Outcomes Project- This project has four goals: 1. Match $5 million in funding from the State of Maryland to pay farmers for nitrogen pollution reductions in service of the state’s Watershed Improvement Plan, which ultimately supports achieving the agriculture sector’s Chesapeake Bay TMDLs. 2. Demonstrate the effectiveness of a breakout state program--the Clean Water Commerce Act—that employs pay-for-success contracting with agricultural producers to achieve nutrient reductions. 3. Demonstrate the scalability of a fully operational program that goes beyond experimental pilots and pays farmers through matching state and federal funding. 4. Expand access by more Maryland farmers—including historically underserved farmers—to additional financial assistance to support implementation of nutrient reduction best practices.

Available for eligible producers in all Maryland counties.

Scaling the Adoption of Adaptive Nitrogen Management Using Low-Cost Cover Crop Imaging and Nitrogen Crediting Technology- This project combines innovative, user-friendly, and affordable on-farm technology with streamlined farmer engagement and payments that offset perceived risks associated with reducing nitrogen (N) rates as part of implementing a stacked advanced nutrient management-cover crops-conservation tillage system (ANM-CC-CT). The two goals on this project are to provide producers with payments to reduce the risk of foregone income to overcome the perceived risk of yield loss due to reducing N applications and evaluate the environmental and social outcomes of the project to provide insights into farmer interest in the technology and the payment structures used and develop recommendations to increase adoption of the NRCS 590 standard.

Available for eligible producers in all Maryland counties.

How to Apply

Partners - NRCS will release an announcement for program funding, that will outline requirements for proposal submissions for funding. NRCS will review partnership proposals according to the priorities identified in the announcement and make project selections. Upon selection of a partnership proposal, NRCS and the partner will enter into a partnership agreement through which they will coordinate to provide producers in the project area assistance. Learn how to apply for RCPP.

Producers – NRCS accepts producer applications for existing RCPP project funds throughout the year, but funding decisions are made on specific dates.  The fiscal year 2027 application cutoff date is November 13, 2026. Additional cutoff dates may be added based on funding availability. Contact your local Service Center to learn more.