Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming. Assistance is also available for constructing seasonal high tunnels and associated practices.
Farmers can sign up for conservation programs throughout the year, but funding selections are made at specific times. The 2017 application deadlines are November 18 and December 16, 2016. Producers should submit their applications for AMA as soon as possible to be considered for limited funding.
Draft High Tunnel Ranking Tool (pdf, 80 kb)
Draft Irrigation Ranking Tool (pdf, 79 kb)
National AMA program information
AMA program manual
Contact
NRCS Field Offices, located in the USDA Service Centers in each Maryland county, can provide additional details and program assistance concerning AMA eligibility requirements, practices, and payments.
Program Contacts
Carol Rivera
Farm Bill Program Specialist (AMA, CSP, RCPP)
Phone: 443.482.2916
Email: carol.rivera@md.usda.gov
Jackie Byam
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
Phone: 443.482.2927
Email: jackie.byam@md.usda.gov
