The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced a new lease opportunity for a 111‑acre parcel of state‑owned agricultural land in Montgomery County. The lease is open only to farmers who commit to regenerative farming practices, a set of techniques that minimize soil disturbance, keep soil covered, rotate crops and livestock, and integrate trees and diverse plantings.
Program goals and state leadership
Dubbed the Regenerative Farming Practices and Traditions Program, the initiative seeks to expand land access for family farmers while advancing the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Maryland natural resources secretary Josh Kurtz called the effort “a new vision for public lands” that will serve as a model for how regenerative agriculture can be done in the state.
The DNR is one of Maryland’s largest agricultural landowners, managing roughly 10,000 acres of state property for farming. This lease marks the first time a state‑owned parcel will be dedicated specifically to regenerative methods.
What regenerative farming entails
Regenerative farming emphasizes:
- Minimizing soil disturbance through reduced tillage
- Keeping soil covered with cover crops or mulch
- Planting a diversity of crops and maintaining living roots year‑round
- Allowing rotational grazing for livestock where appropriate
- Integrating trees and other perennial vegetation
These practices improve water infiltration, increase carbon sequestration, boost biodiversity, and cut reliance on costly fertilizers and herbicides. The DNR also asks applicants to propose public programming or recreational access, linking farming with community education.
Support from conservation groups
Rob Schnabel, a watershed restoration scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in Maryland, praised the program as a “model for regenerative agriculture implementation” that balances land‑access opportunities with conservation benefits. He noted that Maryland has long been a leader in this field, which helps combat climate change, flooding and drought while protecting the Bay’s water quality.
Schnabel added that the initiative could serve as a national example of how public‑owned farmland can be leveraged to make regenerative farming more profitable and accessible for local producers.
How to apply and next steps
The first lease is available in Poolesville, Maryland, and the DNR is actively seeking applicants. The agency plans to evaluate additional state parcels that could fit the program’s criteria, potentially offering longer‑term leases to give farmers the stability needed to implement regenerative systems.
The program was developed under the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (HB 506), sponsored by Governor Wes Moore and passed by the 2025 General Assembly. The legislation authorizes the DNR to issue longer leases, giving farmers more time to realize the environmental and economic benefits of regenerative practices.
Community involvement
Maryland farmers and interested community members are invited to learn more at the third annual Regenerative Farm Tour on October 15 in Woodsboro, Maryland, co‑hosted by the CBF and Mobilize Frederick.
By pairing public land stewardship with proven agricultural techniques, the DNR hopes to strengthen family farms, protect the Chesapeake Bay, and set a precedent for other states seeking sustainable, faith‑aligned stewardship of natural resources.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
