Purpose: What’s your next 4R move to gain greater yield and efficiency on your farm? Use the Mid-Atlantic 4R voucher program with a participating trusted advisor to find out what advanced nutrient management practices could benefit your operation this winter on your small grains.
Vouchers:
We have 18 vouchers valued at $1,000 available. We also have 2 vouchers valued at $1,250 available for historically underserved farmers.
A historically underserved farmer includes:
Women
American Indians or Alaska Natives
Asians or Asian Americans
Black or African Americans
Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders
Hispanics
Beginning Farmer (have not operated a farm for more than 10 years)
Veteran (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2))
These vouchers will be paid directly to the trusted advisor for their work completing the planning of advanced nutrient management on winter small grain crops.
Eligibility Requirements:
A trusted advisor must provide planning to a farmer in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed portions of DE, MD, or PA to plan a new 4R practice between October 2025 and June 2026.
Enrolled fields must have a current nutrient management plan in Delaware and Maryland or meet NRCS Core Nutrient Management requirements in Pennsylvania.
One must share documentation of planned activities.
This data can be used by the Mid-Atlantic 4r Nutrient Stewardship Association for project reporting and presentation. Only aggregated data will be used; no individual farmer data will be shared.
Provide a W9 for the trusted advisor.
The farmer and advisor are willing to participate in an interview with MA4R about their Voucher Program experience in the summer of 2026.
Example Practices for the Voucher (not implementation approved):
Nitrogen Modeling
Nitrogen Variable Rate Maps
Generation of Field Zones
Advanced Soil Testing
Data Management
Precision Fertilizer Recommendations
Timeline:
Vouchers will be reserved by submitting an enrollment form, with proof of Nutrient Management, to Jenell McHenry, Executive Director on a first-come, first-served basis. All forms can be found online here.
The Executive Director will confirm the form is received and voucher is approved, within two weeks of submission.
All completed vouchers and required documents are due to the Executive Director by March 1, 2026.
Vouchers where one PLANS to implement the planned practice in 2025/2026 must submit this reporting form within 30 days of implementation for practice approval. The final planning form can be found here (link is forthcoming). The excel sheet for data can be found here for easy reporting.
Vouchers where one DOES NOT PLAN to implement the planned practice in 2025 must submit this reporting form before March 1st. The final planning form can be found here (link is forthcoming). The excel sheet for data can be found here for easy reporting.
Once all voucher data is collected and compiled, checks to the agribusinesses will be mailed.
Other Notes:
Acreage has no minimum or maximum but must be used to fulfill the budget of $1,000.
Farms are eligible to receive this voucher more than once as long as the practice is new to the field.
A Certified Crop Adviser must sign-off on the voucher.
If you have further questions, please contact Jenell McHenry directly at midatlantic4r@gmail.com or 443-262-6969.
Second: Implementation with Cost-Share
Purpose: After a successful voucher process with your Technical Service Provider, it’s time for implementation! We recognize there can be barriers to implementing 4R practices, so part 2 of this program provides farms with direct cost-share to implement the identified 4R practice(s) that improves nutrient use efficiency through modifying the Source, Rate, Time and Placement of nutrients.
Eligibility Requirements:
One must complete our Voucher Program before implementing an advanced nutrient management practice for cost-share.
For voucher requirements, please view the eligibility above.
Timeline:
Complete a small grains voucher and submit this reporting form within 30 days of implementation for practice approval. The excel sheet for data can be found here for easy reporting. But no later than March 1st.
The Executive Director will review and respond with questions and next step requirements within two weeks.
Complete previous history and current nutrient application data and submit by April 1st. The excel sheet for data can be found here for easy reporting.
Confirmation of implementation and yields will be due to Jenell by August 1st.
Payments will be sent once all data is collected.
Approved Cost-Share Practices:
Precision Nitrogen Recommendations (Variable Rate, Greenseeker, etc.) – there must be a reduction in normal practice rate
Implementation of in-season nitrogen management practices (PSNT, Adapt N, In Season Sensors, etc.)
Split Nitrogen Application – there must be a new split in nitrogen application from typical previous practice
Nitrogen Stabilizers – with a reduction in total application
On Farm Replicated Research or On Farm Strip Trials
As long as there is a timing, source, or placement deliverable and a reduction of nutrients.
Please note if you have an idea or suggestion that you would like to see completed on a farm, please bring it to our attention. We will see if it qualifies.
Payment:
Under 50 acres – the farmer will be paid $35 an acre. With a maximum payment of $1,750. With a minimum of 20 acres (expectations may be granted for small acreage on a case-by-case basis).
Over 70 acres – the farmer will be paid a flat rate of $2,350.
Trusted advisers will be paid $500 for each farmer that they provide technical support to. Their role is to ensure implementation requirements are met and all appropriate documents and data is provided.
Other Notes:
2026 Summer crop vouchers will be released Fall 2025.
If you have further questions, please contact Jenell McHenry directly at midatlantic4r@gmail.com or contacting her cell at 443-262-6969.
2025 Summer Voucher Information
Vouchers that are not implementing – reporting form is due ASAP
All vouchers must submit this excel sheet in addition to the reporting form, please note the two tabs at the bottom of the sheet for implementation or not.
Final reports for implemented vouchers are due December 1st – form will be linked here once available
