New Maryland Program Prioritizes Regenerative Farming on State Land

DNR Initiative is a Strong Step for Maryland Farmers and Clean Water

This week, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced a first-of-its-kind regenerative farming lease on state-owned land. This program will help farmers who lease property from the state to prioritize and scale regenerative agriculture practices. These practices improve soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, and reduce pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay.

DNR is one of the largest agricultural landowners in the state, leasing about 10,000 acres of state property for farming. Incentivizing regenerative agriculture on state-owned land will have significant long-term benefits for farmers, communities, soil health, and clean water across the state—especially as farm ownership continues to become more expensive and a barrier for new farmers.

The new program launched with DNR’s first lease, available in Poolesville, Maryland. The program was developed as part of the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (HB 506), which was sponsored by Governor Wes Moore and passed in the 2025 General Assembly session. The program allows DNR to issue longer leases to farmers, which enables more time and certainty for them to implement voluntary regenerative farming systems. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has long advocated for regenerative farming on state-owned land and lobbied in support of the Bay Legacy Act.

Regenerative agriculture is a climate-smart farming method that focuses on biodiverse ecosystems and healthy soils. Its benefits include water infiltration and retention, carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change, increased biodiversity, and improved farm economics by reducing costly fertilizer and herbicides. Regenerative practices such as diversifying crops and livestock and integrating trees help the soil retain both nutrients and water, and reduce pollution from running into Maryland waterways.

DNR is currently seeking applicants for its first available lease in Poolesville and is working to identify additional properties that are suitable for long-term regenerative agriculture leases throughout the state.

Maryland farmers and leaders who are interested in learning more about regenerative agriculture are also welcome to join CBF and Mobilize Frederick at their third annual Regenerative Farm Tour on October 15 in Woodsboro, Maryland.

CBF Maryland Watershed Restoration Scientist Rob Schnabel issued the following statement:

“DNR’s new farming program is a model for regenerative agriculture implementation, combining land access opportunities for farmers while maximizing community and conservation benefits.

“Maryland has long been a leader in regenerative agriculture, which is a critical tool in our fight against climate change, flooding, and droughts. This initiative is a great example of how proven solutions that improve healthy ecosystems can be implemented and scaled across the state. It should serve as a national model for public owned farmland. We applaud DNR and Governor Moore for their leadership to make regenerative farming easier and more profitable for farmers who are leasing state land to feed their communities.”