John Swain, president of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) and a Talbot County grain farmer, told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on Jan. 28 that conservation districts are a key technical partner in implementing farm conservation and Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.

"Thanks to funding through the state, Maryland is number 1 in the country for percentage of our crop land planted in cover crops," Swain said, describing district work that in 2024 assisted farmers to plant about 450,000 acres of cover crops.

Swain said districts helped nearly 1,000 farmers implement more than 3,400 best management practices (BMPs) and prepared or updated more than 1,300 soil conservation and water-quality plans protecting over 30,000 acres. District technical staff also reviewed approximately 10,000 erosion and sediment control plans in urban areas to ensure development is compatible with environmental protection, he said.

Swain highlighted the importance of state investments and technical staff in leveraging Inflation Reduction Act and Farm Bill funds: "In 2024, conservation districts helped to get a total of $7,140,000 in state and federal funds on the ground to implement conservation projects," he said (transcript figure). He told the committee that such funding is especially critical when farm incomes are strained.

Swain closed by thanking legislators for prior support and urging continued backing for technical assistance and cost-share programs that allow farmers to prioritize conservation despite tight finances. No specific new funding or legislative actions were proposed during the briefing.