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The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) has established the Bay Friendly Farms Program, formerly the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) to acknowledge those farmers who are good stewards of their natural resources and to encourage and reward farmers to put more conservation best management practices (BMPs) on the land.
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The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) was one of the first created in the United States and has become one of the nation's leaders in agricultural land preservation.
Created by the General Assembly in 1977, MALPF purchases agricultural preservation easements that forever restrict development on prime farmland and woodland and has permanently preserved land in each of Maryland's 23 counties, representing a public investment of over $662 million. At the end of FY 2015, MALPF has purchased easements on a cumulative total of 2,187 properties, permanently preserving about 296,682 acres.
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Photo Credit: MdAgDept/Flickr, photo taken from ChesapeakeBay.net
Best Management Practice (BMP) verification is a process that includes initial inspection, follow-up checks and evaluation of BMP performance.
Best management practice (BMP) verification is “the process through which agency partners ensure practices, treatments and technologies resulting in reductions of nitrogen, phosphorus and/or sediment pollutant loads are implemented and operating correctly.” It can be viewed as a life cycle process that includes initial inspection, follow-up checks and evaluation of BMP performance.
Contact:
Carol Middleton, carol.middleton@maryland.gov, Maryland Department of Agriculture
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In 2013, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to establish a voluntary Agricultural Certainty Program that will give Maryland farmers a 10-year exemption from new environmental laws and regulations in return for installing best management practices in order to meet local or Chesapeake Bay Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) goals ahead of schedule.
The program allows participating farmers to conduct business in a predictable regulatory setting, while providing certainty that agricultural pollution controls are being implemented. Farmers must control all nutrient and sediment problems on farms using a Soil Conservation and Water Qualit Plan and a current Nutrient Management Plan.
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The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act took effect on July 1, 2025, establishing the Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program. The program will be developed and administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). MDA is currently developing the program framework, coordinating with agricultural and conservation partners, and gathering input from farmers and other stakeholders. Applications are not yet being accepted, but additional program details, eligibility requirements, and enrollment information will be announced as they become available.
Farmers interested in participating are encouraged to join the LEEF mailing list to receive program news and updates.
Partners interested in providing input, sharing ideas, or discussing opportunities for collaboration may contact MDA at LEEF.MDA@maryland.gov.