ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 12, 2025) ~ Annapolis, MD - The skies over rural Maryland will be buzzing with low-flying airplanes, helicopters, and drones until October 10, 2025. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has issued a warning to residents in these areas to expect an increase in aerial activity as farmers participate in the state's Cover Crop Program.

According to Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, aerial seeding is a fast and efficient way for farmers to plant fall cover crops. This method involves planting cover crop seeds into standing corn, giving the crops more time to grow before the arrival of cool weather. This boosts their ability to capture and recycle unused nutrients from the previous corn crop, preventing them from washing into local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

Residents of rural Maryland should anticipate an increase in low-flying aircraft over the next few weeks as aerial seeding takes place. This is all part of the department's efforts to protect local waterways from nutrient runoff, reduce erosion, and improve soil health for spring cash crops.

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Farmers enrolled in the Cover Crop Program receive grants to plant cereal grains and a variety of cover crop mixes in the fall. These cover crops provide a protective cover throughout the winter months, helping to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff while enhancing soil quality for spring planting. Additionally, they play a crucial role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the air and protecting farm fields from extreme weather conditions.

It's important to note that no pesticides or fertilizers are used when planting cover crops under MDA's Cover Crop Program. The small planes and helicopters used for aerial seeding will take off from local airports serving the area.

Funding for Maryland's Cover Crop Program comes from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. The program is administered by MDA and the state's 23 soil conservation districts through the Conservation Grants Program.

For more information on this program, residents are encouraged to contact their local soil conservation district. As the state continues its efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable farming practices, the skies over rural Maryland will remain a busy sight until October 10, 2025.

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