| | | | | | | | | Inflation Reduction Act Could Buoy Conservation Ag Investments | | | A flurry of activity on Capitol Hill over the weekend and upcoming later this week could signal a new chapter in available conservation ag funding for U.S. farmers, ranchers and technical service providers. The Inflation Reduction Act passed the U.S. Senate on Sunday and is scheduled to head to the House on Friday. An analysis by Trust In Food colleague Dr. Stephanie Mercier, senior policy adviser at the nonprofit Farm Journal Foundation, shows that among other provisions, the act in its current form would: - Provide nearly $20 billion in funding through four USDA conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and RCPP) to encourage farmers and ranchers to adopt climate-smart ag practices
- Inject $1 billion in direct funding of technical assistance to help farmers adopt conservation ag and climate-smart practices
- Include $300 million for a program that would quantify carbon sequestration plus carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture
- Expand support for historically underserved producers, including $2.2 billion for discrimination financial assistance; $250 million for research, Extension and education for minority farmers; and $200 million to help farmers resolve or clarify land title issues
What all of this could mean is more dollars and cents for on-the-ground support that gets farmers and ranchers further along their transition to climate-smart agriculture. Although financial investment and technical assistance are essential components of the journey, it’s important to remember they won’t alone change hearts and minds. More than ever, anyone who aims to help producers must do so recognizing their individuality, their unique lived experiences and the customization of services and solutions that can make conservation ag work on their operations. You won’t find a human dimensions of change provision within the current language of the Inflation Reduction Act. It’s our hope here at Trust In Food that one day, consideration of farmers’ understanding, value and capability to take action will be reflected, literally and figuratively, in the policies that support their sustained conservation ag adoption. For now, we can celebrate that the conversation is oriented toward further helping farmers and ranchers with practices that can help their economic and environmental well-being while producing valuable ecosystem benefits for society at large. Until next week,
Nate Birt
Vice President, Trust In Food™ | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | Accelerated Adaptation—Connecting Farmers to New Innovations | | | | By Cara Urban, Sustainability and Carbon Analyst, Trust in Food: Consistent standards, de-risking practice change and better data management can all help farmers better understand and adopt sustainability practices. In 2020, nearly two-thirds of farmers did not use a farm information software system to gather intelligence about their operations. Close to half of those farmers reported keeping records primarily with pen and paper. Interestingly, despite broad aversion to data collection, 86% of farmers in the same group answered that they might be willing to share data in theory if provided with incentives that “make their operations more profitable.” | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | Indiana Farm Thrives Thanks To ‘Three-Legged Stool’ Strategy That Includes Partners, Sustainability | | | | By Rhonda Brooks, content projects manager for Farm Journal and editor of Bovine Veterinarian: Partnerships, both formal and informal, have made it possible for the Billings family to continue the 1,800-acre Indiana farm that family patriarch, Dick, left them when he passed away three years ago. Today, his extended family – wife, Diane, son, Steve, and three granddaughters – are intent on maintaining and building upon his vision for the operation. | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | Shared by David Frabotta, manager of climate-smart ag interactive programming, Trust In Food: Ground has broken on a $19 million research initiative aimed at understanding how a producer’s grazing management decisions impact soil health and, in turn, how soil health can positively impact land and producer well-being. The project is led by Noble Research Institute and is part of the Metrics, Management, and Monitoring: An Investigation of Pasture and Rangeland Soil Health and its Drivers, also known as the 3M project, one of the most robust investigations of ecosystem functions across time and space, diversity of landscapes, and gradients of management. | | |
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| | | Shared by Ryan Heiniger, director of America's Conservation Ag Movement, Trust In Food: A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers outlines programs for technical guidance and financial incentives for women, minorities, veterans, beginning and limited-resource producers in a comprehensive single source. The resource details new eligibility requirements and definitions for historically underserved producers for programs through Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency. | | |
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| | | Shared by David Frabotta, manager of climate-smart ag interactive programming, Trust In Food: In February, Kellogg and Regrow partnered to work on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions of growing rice. In June, General Mills announced a partnership with Regrow to monitor 175 million acres of agricultural land in regions where General Mills procures most of its dairy and wheat—California, the Great Lakes and Corn Belt and the southern and northern Plains of the United States. Greenbiz details Regrow's offerings and why food companies are signing on. | | |
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