The Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program provides farmers with grants to cover up to 100 percent of the cost to install conservation measure​s known as best management practices on their farms to prevent soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. 

Grassed waterways  planted to prevent gully erosion in farm fields, streamside buffers of grasses and trees planted to filter sediment and farm runoff, and animal manure management systems constructed to help farmers safely handle and store manure resources are among more than 40 best management practices currently eligible for cost-share grants.

The MACS Manual details the specifics of these best management practices and includes forms and instructions needed for a project to qualify​ for payment. The most recent version of the manual appears below. Please refresh your browser to ensure you have the latest update. Click on the PDFs below to open.

SECTION I - Introduction and Overview​​

SECTION II - Eligible Best Management Practices and Cost-Share Rates (Click on PDFs below)

• Eligible Practices and Cost-Share Rates
  (NRCS Numerical Order)​
• Eligible Practices and Cost-Share Rates (Alphabetical Order)
• 313 Waste Storage Structure
• 316 Poultry Mortality Composting Facility​
• 327 Conservation Cover
• 330 Contour Farming
• 331 Contour Orchard
• 342 Critical Area Planting
• 350 Sediment Basin
• 359 Waste Treatment Lagoon
• 362 Diversion
• 367 Roofs and Covers
  
• 378 Sediment Control Pond
• 380 Windbreak Establishment​
• 381 Silvopasture
• 382 Fencing
• 386 Field Border
• 390 Riparian Herbaceous Cover​
• 391 Riparian Forest Buffer
• 393 Filter Strip
• 410 Grade Stabilization Structure
• 412 Grassed Waterway
• 422 Hedgerow​
• 468 Lined Waterway or Outlet
• 512 Pasture Management​​
• 558 Roof Runoff Structure
• 561 Heavy Use Area
• 574 Spring Development
• 578 Stream Crossing
• 585 Strip-Cropping (Contour and Field) 
• 587 Structure Water Control
• 600 Terrace System
• 604 Saturated Buffer
• 605 Subsurface Denitrifying Bioreactor​
• 606 Subsurface Drain​
• 612 Tree and Shrub Establishment
• 614 Watering Facility
• 620 Underground Outlet​
• 635 Wastewater Treatment Strip​
• 642 Water Well
• 657 Wetland Restoration for Water Quality 
• 658 Wetland Creation for Water Quality​

SECTION III - Forms and Instructions (Click on PDFs below)

• Additional Provisions for Satellite Poultry Waste Storage Structures 
  
• Satellite Poultry Weight Sizing Calculation Sheet (Microsoft Excel File)  
• MACS Agreement
• Notice to Title Examiners
• Guidelines for Completing Notice to Title Examiners Form
• Chart of Required Attachments to Accompany the MACS Water Quality Project Form
• Notes to the Chart of Attachments​ ​
  
• Water Quality Application (Excel File​)
• Water Quality Project Application Instructions​
• Attachment-313 Provisions for All Animal Waste Management Facilities 
• Attachment-313 Additional Provisions for Roofed Animal Waste Storage Structures ​
• Attachment-316 Provisions for Poultry Mortality Composting Facilities​
• Attachment-316 Provisions for Attaching a Poultry Mortality Composting Facility to a Waste Storage Structure
• Poultry Mortality Composting Facility Training Certificate
  
• Certification Form for 100-Ft Setback Exception
• Sediment Control Pond Responsibilities​
• Sediment Control Pond Cost-Effectiveness Questionnaire
• Extended Buffer Worksheet
  
• Attachment-512 Provisions for Pasture M​anagement​​
• HUA Poultry Eligibility Criteria Worksheet
  
• HUA Protection (Concrete Pad) to a Waste Storage Structure or a Poultry Mortality Composting Facility (Active or Expired)​
  
• Provisions for​ Protections HUA/Roofs & Covers​ (Excel File)​
• Stream Crossings/Bridges Eligibility Criteria​
• Certification of Imminent Start-Up or Expansion of a Livestock Operation
• Certification of Imminent Start-Up or Expansion of a Poultry Growing Operation
• Claim for Payment​ (Excel File)
• ​Claim for Payment Guidelines
• Special Power of Attorney
• Certificate of Sole Proprietorship​
  
• Certificate of Resolution
• Pooling Agreement Application
• Pooling Agreement Guidelines​
• Transfer of Property Worksheet
• Nutrient Management Guidance
• Current Nutrient Management Plan Certification​
• Saturated Buffer Attachment
• Denitrifying Bioreactor Attachment
• Underground Outlet Attachment​
• Subsurface Drainage Attachment​
  
• Provision for 100% Cost-Share​
  
• Tree Incentive Payment Form and Guidance
• On-Farm Status Review Form (Excel File)
• ​​Authorized Signatures for Water Quality Cost-Share Program
  
• Authorized Signatures for Cover Crop​
  

SECTION IV - Appendix(Click on PDFs below)

• Agriculture Article Title 8. Soil Conservation
• Code of Maryland Regulations
• Priority Watersheds for Targeting Funds​
  
  Updated ​10/10/24​
  
  
  
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