 High Quality Productive 

Soils 

 Clean and Abundant 

 Water 

 Healthy Plant and 

Animal Communities 

 Clean Air 

 Adequate Energy Supply 

 Working Farm and 

Ranch Lands 

MISSION GOALS 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

 Service 

 Partnership 

 Technical Excellence 

 The 2002 Farm Bill recognized the need for locally led conservation programs and provided $18,048,136 in Fiscal Year 2008 conservation financial assistance funding in Maryland for the following 

USDA NRCS Conservation Programs. 

Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) 

 Provided $506,474 to protect 1,530 acres 

Conservation Security Program (CSP) 

 Provided $461,530 to enroll 21,731 acres

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

 Provided $8,870,270 enrolling 48,541 acres

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) 

 Provided $2,638,020 to land trust groups to preserve 515 acres 

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) 

 Provided $4,645,023 to restore 2,011 acres 

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) 

 Provided $926,819 enrolling 429 acres

 

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) 

 NRCS and Conservation Partnership employees responded to 

more than 22,000 requests for brief conservation technical assistance to landowners that benefited approximately 350,000 acres of 

agricultural land. NRCS Maryland and partnership employees participated in almost 200 outreach events that provided information 

to approximately 28,000 farmers and landowners. 

Farm Bill Programs Provided 

$18 Million in Conservation Funds 

to Maryland Farmers 

NRCS Maryland 

FY08 Conservation 

Update 

NRCS Soil Conservationist Eugene Jones II 

(right) reviews a Conservation Plan Map with 

Eddie Taylor, manager at Andelot Farm in Kent 

County. The field, along the Chesapeake Bay, 

is planted in warm season grasses for wildlife 

habitat. 

Soil Surveys 

 The National Soil Survey Program was restructured to improve consistency and economics in its program 

operations. Using the internet based Web Soil Survey, users can print up-to-date soil information for Anne 

Arundel, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, 

Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, in addition to Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. Updates for Allegany, Prince George’s, Talbot and Cecil Counties are scheduled for 2009. 
CIG Field Trials Remove Up to 99% of 

Phosphorus from Ag Ditch Water 

The University of Maryland is conducting research on ways to treat 

water in agricultural drainage ditches to remove nutrients and improve 

water quality before the water enters the Chesapeake Bay. Agricultural drainage ditches, which are common on the DelMarVa Peninsula, can serve as a major transport pathway for nutrients, sediments, 

and other contaminants. 

Through a 2007 Conservation Innovation Grant, NRCS awarded 

$999,683 to a team of researchers led by Dr. Joshua McGrath of the 

University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for a three 

year research project. “This CIG project has enormous potential,” 

said Dr. McGrath. “The project will allow us to collect key data at a 

variety of sites, and will help us bridge obstacles to implementing this 

innovative technology that will ultimately curb the flow of phosphorus 

into the Bay.” 

Researchers are evaluating the ditches as a possible intervention point 

where phosphorus (P) in runoff from farm soils can be prevented from 

entering the Bay. Researchers are testing the use of a phosphorus 

absorbing material placed within drainage ditches to act as a P “filter”. 

This unique system captures and removes P from the ditch water and 

the materials can be potentially land applied. Field trials of the proposed conservation treatment system have shown a high likelihood of 

success, at times removing approximately 99% of the P from treated 

water. In addition to removing P from ditch water these treatment systems have the potential to remove nitrogen, sediment, and other contaminants. 

Productive Lands and a Healthy Environment 

 At a field trial site on the lower Eastern Shore, a gypsum 

filter (brown filter cloth over gypsum material) absorbs 

phosphorus from farm runoff. The weir (white wall blocking ditch) temporarily slows and pools the ditch water allowing the phosphorus to be absorbed by the filter.

 

Dig It! The Secret of Soil! NRCS Exhibit Opens at Smithsonian 

A new exhibit, “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” 

opened July 19, 2008, at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. On 

loan from USDA are 54 designated state and 

territory soil monoliths (pictured upper right). 

Another component of the exhibition is a large 

map (pictured lower right) created by USDA’s 

Natural Resources Conservation Service allowing visitors to learn more about soils around the 

world. Maryland’s state soil, the Sassafras Soil 

Series, is featured in the exhibit. 

Maryland NRCS soil scientists Jim Brewer, Dave 

Verdone and Eddie Earls are featured in another exhibit component. This exhibition will be 

on display at the museum for almost two years. 

It will then become a traveling exhibit and “go on 

the road” to other museums across the country. 

The exhibit was developed by the Museum of 

Natural History and supported by NRCS and the 

Soil Science Society of America. This 5,000-

square-foot exhibit is a great educational tool. 
MOO-ving Forward with 

Grazing Partnerships 

 

Fiscal Year 2008 was a very active year for outreach activities conducted by NRCS, the Maryland Conservation Partnership and the Maryland – Delaware Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). Highlights include: 

 Implementation of two grants on equine land management issues by the Maryland Department of Agriculture 

(MDA). 

 NRCS-sponsored projects developed through local Soil 

Conservation Districts to accelerate assistance on pasture land. 

 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant to the University of 

Maryland’s Equine Studies Program to develop a rotational grazing system demonstration project at the University of Maryland’s Clarksville facility. 

 The ongoing NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant on 

Conversion to Grassed Based Dairy Systems in West 

Central Maryland being developed by MDA, local Extension Agents and Soil Conservation District employees. 

These outreach efforts and other partnership events held 

throughout the state produced the following results: 

 53 workshops, conferences and pasture walks concerning pasture management. 

 2,135 landowners who learned abut pasture management and land stewardship. 

 58 Educational Grazing Demonstrations which are being 

maintained in Maryland. 

Cooperative Conservation In Action 

2008 National USDA Earth Day Celebration on Baltimore County Farm 

NRCS District Conservationist Jack King (right) shows producer Bobbie Reed how to measure pasture growth using a 

Grazing Stick. Reed uses rotational grazing practices to manage her cattle herd at Winterhawk Farm in Caroline County. 

NRCS Grazing Specialist Elmer Dengler teaches a pasture management workshop to conservation partnership agency employees and 

farmers. Dengler has been recognized by conservation agencies as 

a leader and trusted authority in building locally led conservation and 

grazing partnerships and providing outreach to Maryland farmers. 

USDA Secretary Ed Schafer speaks at the national celebration. Other conservation partners participating in the event 

are (from left) MDA Secretary Roger Richardson, NRCS 

State Conservationist Jon Hall, and farmer Glenn Elseroad. 

On Earth Day, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that 

Maryland will receive $2.6 million to protect agricultural land 

through the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program 

(FRPP). 

Maryland's FRPP funding was distributed to the Baltimore County 

Agricultural Land Preservation Program and the Eastern Shore 

Land Conservancy. The two FRPP agreements will protect 622 

acres of farmland in Maryland. Baltimore County's $1.6 million will 

protect 341 acres on five farms. The scenic and historic Elseroad 

farm will be acquired through the Baltimore County agreement. 

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy agreement covers 281 

acres on a family farm in Talbot County, the second phase of this 

agricultural land preservation project. FRPP is one of several federal conservation programs used by Maryland farmers to improve 

water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 
Helping Build a National Heritage Scenic Trail 

along The Potomac River 

Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development 

Council (RC&D), in partnership with the National Park Service, 

has brought the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to 

Charles and St. Mary's Counties. The 200-mile bicycling trail 

will follow existing facilities and will connect public, green and 

historic spaces along the Potomac River. 

RC&D and county partners are excited about the potential for 

sustainable economic development in trail-adjacent communities as they develop site-based and heritage tourism. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail currently extends from 

Prince George's County, Maryland to near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other trail segments include Ohiopyle State Park, the 

C&O Canal and the Great Allegheny Passage. 

Watershed Approach to Conservation 

NRCS Maryland 

Jon Hall, State Conservationist 

339 Busch’s Frontage Road, Suite 301 

Annapolis, MD 21409 

(410) 757-0861 Fax: (410) 757-0687 

www.md.nrcs.usda.gov 

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in 

all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply 

to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 

D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 

(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." 

Replacing a culvert pipe with concrete 

slats in the streambed provides a fishfriendly livestock crossing. 

Farmers Enhance Aquatic Habitat With Stream Bank Improvement 

NRCS and its conservation partners are restoring and creating new 

aquatic and wildlife habitat throughout the state using the Wildlife 

Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Farmers are using NRCS technical and financial assistance and partnership support to remove 

stream blockages and restore access to streams for migratory and 

resident fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Conservation 

agencies have worked with Maryland landowners to reopen more 

than 400 miles of streams. 

A Stream Habitat Improvement Project on a Western Maryland farm 

removed a culvert pipe blocking a stream and installed concrete 

slats in the streambed to provide a stable and fish-friendly livestock 

crossing. The farmer also fenced cattle out of the stream to protect 

water quality and provide riparian habitat. This conservation project 

provides quality fish habitat for feeding and breeding, and supports 

efforts to reverse the historic decline in fish populations. 

NRCS also provides assistance with improvement of stream habitat 

and restoration of streambanks and shorelines.