ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 1, 2025) ~ The Maryland Department of Agriculture has recently launched a new public awareness campaign aimed at educating farmers about the benefits of planting trees on their farmland. The campaign, which will run throughout the month of February, highlights the various incentive programs offered by the department and emphasizes how tree planting can have positive impacts on farm income, soil and herd health, and local streams and natural resources.

According to Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, farmers rely on their land to support their families and operations. He encourages farmers who own marginal farmland near streams, pastureland that could benefit from trees, or other suitable land to explore the department's tree planting incentive programs. Atticks believes that planting trees can not only benefit the farm but also contribute to environmental conservation efforts.

The department's tree-planting incentives cover a range of soil health and agroforestry practices that combine farming and forestry to create healthier conditions for people, animals, and crops. These practices allow farmers to improve natural resources while generating income through the planting of nut and berry trees. Eligible participants may receive up to 100% cost-share for selected practices and a one-time bonus payment of $1,000 per acre for establishing riparian forest buffers. These efforts align with Maryland's goal of planting 5 million trees by 2031 to capture atmospheric carbon and promote public health.

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Some eligible tree-planting and agroforestry practices include riparian forest buffers along streams, alley cropping between rows of trees for improved soil health, hedgerow plantings as living fences to attract wildlife, windbreaks near production areas for air filtration, silvopasture by integrating trees with grazing livestock for improved herd and soil health, as well as general tree and shrub establishment for environmental benefits.

Farmers interested in learning more about these incentives can visit the department's website or seek free technical help and application assistance through local soil conservation districts.

Rona Flagle, the Resource Conservation Public Affairs Coordinator, can be contacted for more information about this outreach campaign at rona.flagle@maryland.gov. The campaign includes a 30-second public service announcement that will air on local cable and broadcast networks, including Maryland Public Television, as well as social media messaging on various digital platforms.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture hopes that this campaign will encourage more farmers to consider the benefits of planting trees on their farmland and contribute to the state's goal of environmental conservation.

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