Maryland farmers participating in the Maryland Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Cover Crop Program planted a record 398,679 acres of cover crops on their farms last fall to control soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality in streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Remote sensing will enable scientists to see if winter cover crops are improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

No-tillers in the Chesapeake Bay would benefit financially if Congress passes legislation that establishes nutrient trading to improve water quality, the World Resources Institute says.

A machine that can inject dry poultry litter and composted cattle manure below the soil surface in pastures and no-till fields is on order from a research coalition across five Chesapeake Bay states: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. There are currently no machines on the market that can do this.

Ray Archuleta, who works for the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, is passionate about no-till and he reminded producers that what makes a successful no-till system is in the things you don’t necessarily see on the ground.

Innovative farmers who provide their communities environmental benefits and who operate profitable farms will host a conservation tour in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia on Aug. 3