DORCHESTER COUNTY, Md. - Farmers in Dorchester County say saltwater intrusion is devastating their crops, but a new pilot program in Maryland could offer a solution by introducing an alternative crop.
Dead Crops from Saltwater
Some farmers are considering switching to different seeds after losing nearly half of their farmland’s crops. While some fields were ready for harvest, others failed to grow beyond two inches before dying.
"It's been an ongoing problem for years. It's just continuously getting worse and worse and worse," said Wendell Meekins, a farmer in Dorchester County.
Meekins said rising tides are bringing saltwater onto farmland, leading to mass die-offs and crops turning white from salt exposure. Researchers at the University of Maryland are aware of the issue and are working with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to test the viability of switchgrass as an alternative.
"It's a native grass. It's fairly tolerant to salts if it can grow in these salty conditions. And if we actually can harvest it in these conditions, then it's actually a win-win-win," said Dr. Kate Tully, a researcher with the University of Maryland.
The research is laying the groundwork for a pilot program. UMES was awarded $5 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explore the feasibility of switchgrass. Tully said the program would compensate farmers at a rate of about $400 per acre. After harvest, the switchgrass would be processed with chicken manure in an anaerobic digester.
"In what's called waste to energy. And what we're trying to do is take that chicken litter and convert it into renewable natural gas that can be used directly in our energy, as energy sources for our homes and businesses," Tully said.
If the pilot program moves forward, Meekins said he would be willing to make the switch, not only for its economic benefits but also for its ability to serve as a buffer against saltwater intrusion.
"We have to, or we're gonna totally lose these grounds. I mean, they'll become irrelevant," he said.
Scientists and farmers are still in the early stages of determining whether switchgrass is a viable alternative. The pilot program has not yet begun, and it remains unclear if the ongoing federal funding freeze could impact its rollout.