Many years ago the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) established the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) to acknowledge those farmers who are good stewards of their natural resources and to encourage and reward farmers to put more conservation best management practices (BMPs) on the land.  Now, the program has been rebranded and is called the Maryland Bay-Friendly Farm Certification Program.
The program is designed to recognize farmers who demonstrate outstanding conservation and invite everyone to take pride in and support their efforts. Farms that apply for certification are evaluated based on measures related to soil health, water quality, nutrient management, and other criteria.

Maryland has over 120 certified farms on more than 56,000 acres with St. Mary’s having 7 certified farms on 565 acres.

1. Even’ Star Organic Farm, Brett Grohsgal & Gretchen Bergmark, Organic Vegetables, 104 acres
2. Old Sawmill Lane Farm, Donald & Donna Knott, Crops, 105 acres
3. Shamrock Arabians, Barbara McDonald, Arabian Horses, 22 acres
4. Moore or Less Farm, James & Elissa Moore, agri-tourism, alpacas, vegetables, 24 acres
5. Sassafras Creek Farm, David Paulk, Organic Vegetables, 88 acres
6. Mattaponi Farm, James Raley, Crops, 193 acres
7. Roundabout Farm, Steve Sisterman, Horses, 29 acres

If you are interested in applying to be a Maryland Bay-Friendly Farm, visit the Maryland Bay Friendly Farming website to fill out an application.