Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is opening 111-acres of agricultural property for lease to farmers who use regenerative farming practices, both to expand land access and promote sustainable agriculture.
The new program, Regenerative Farming Practices and Traditions Program, aims to help farmers and take steps towards a cleaner Chesapeake Bay. The land, owned by the state, is in Montgomery County. This is the first regenerative farming lease on state-owned land. DNR is one of the largest agricultural landowners in the state, and leases around 10,000 acres of state property for farming.
“This opportunity is part of a new vision for public lands in the state of Maryland,” said Maryland natural resources secretary Josh Kurtz. “We want some of the state’s agricultural land to serve as a model for how regenerative agriculture can be done in Maryland. This will open opportunities to farmers, while also benefiting the soil and the landscape.”
Regenerative farming involves minimizing soil disturbance, keeping soil covered, planting a diversity of crops, maintaining living roots, and allowing rotational grazing for livestock where appropriate. DNR hopes incentivizing these practices will benefit farmers, communities, and the environment. The department is also asking farmers who apply for the program to include plans for public programming or recreational access…