Dairy & Livestock Manure Transport & Injection Grants

Make your move

Maryland’s Manure Transport Program can help you cover the cost of hauling dairy and livestock manure away from areas with high soil phosphorus levels. Get the scoop on these attractive cost-share options: 

• This program is for non-poultry manure. (Exceptions may apply) 
• We pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs to transport manure to farm fields with acceptable soil phosphorus levels or alternative use projects that can use the product safely. 
• Farmers/businesses receiving the manure or registered manure brokers may apply for these grants. 
• You have two options for transport: FastTrack and Standard. (See page 2)

Give manure injection a shot

We also offer grants to help cover expenses associated with injecting liquid manure below the soil surface. Check out the many benefits of manure injection: 

• Reduces odors/neighbor complaints.
• Minimizes nitrogen volatilization, benefiting crops.
• Prevents soil and nutrient losses.
• Works well with no-till and strip-till systems.

Fasttrack option to transport dairy and livestock manure 

Our FastTrack grants make it easy to transport dairy and livestock manure away from areas with high soil phosphorus levels to qualifying farm fields. Here’s how they work:

• FastTrack grants feature the haul now, apply later option for fast delivery.
• Operations receiving the manure may apply for these grants by downloading an application from the website or by contacting the local soil conservation district.
• Receiving farm fields are required to have a Maryland Soil Phosphorus Fertility Index Value (P-FIV) of 100 or less.
• We pay up to 87.5 percent of all eligible costs.
• Funding is capped at $15,000 per season and $30,000 a year for receiving farms.
• Our transport grants are based on the following maximum application rates: — 6,000 gallons per acre for liquid/slurry manure — 10 tons per acre for solid/semi-solid manure
• Payment rates are based on distance and manure type (liquid or solid).
• Manure must be transported more than 1 mile from the sending source.
• Receiving crops or hay fields must contain less than 25 percent legumes.
• Download the application from the website at mda.maryland.gov/manure

Standard option to transport dairy and livestock manure

Our standard manure transport option is available for receiving farms that don’t meet our FastTrack grant requirements. This option requires your application to be approved before you transport the manure. Here’s how it works:

• Contact your local soil conservation district to apply for our standard manure transport grants.
• Submit the relevant maps and soil tests from your current nutrient management plan, along with: — Nitrogen-based nutrient recommendations for fields with a P-FIV of 100 or less. — Phosphorus-based nutrient recommendations for fields with a P-FIV between 101 and 150.
• Receiving farm fields with a P-FIV above 150 are not eligible for this program.

Grants to inject manure into the soil

Cost-share grants of up to $45 an acre are available to help farmers inject liquid manure below the soil surface to prevent nutrient runoff, reduce odors, and preserve beneficial surface residue. Grants are available for spring or fall-planted crops and may be used to hire custom operators, rent or lease equipment, or offset operating costs associated with manure injection. Work may begin March 1 as long as the ground is not frozen or snow-covered. Fields must have a P-FIV less than 500.

How to apply

• Contact your local soil conservation district to apply for these grants or apply directly to MDA.
• You must be in good standing with the Conservation Grants and Nutrient Management programs.
• Additional conditions may apply.

Cost-share grants

Cost-share grants are available from the Maryland Department of Agriculture to help farmers inject all types of liquid manure into their fields. Grants are available for spring or fall-planted crops and may be used to hire custom operators, rent or lease equipment, or offset operating costs associated with manure injection. Call or visit your soil conservation district to jump start your spring planting today!

Advantages of manure injection

• Reduces odors and complaints from neighbors
• Reduces nitrogen volatilization—more nitrogen is available to crops
• Minimizes soil disturbance—helps prevent soil and nutrient losses
• Works well with no-till and strip-till systems

Guidelines and conditions

• Manure must be injected below the soil surface
• Applicants must be in good standing with the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program and the Maryland Nutrient Management Program
• Additional restrictions may apply

* Based on a maximum application rate of 6,000 gallons/acre