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Congressional Democrats unveiled a bill that would pay livestock farmers on large industrial operations to transition toward more climate-friendly practices. Agriculture Dive says the bill would use Inflation Reduction Act funding to provide farmers with grants to transition Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations into specialty crop production or pasture-based livestock operations. Farmers participating in this program would need to permanently cease operating their CAFOs within 180 days. The proposal comes as House Republicans look to move IRA funds earmarked for climate-smart agriculture to pay for other priorities in the farm bill. Democrats are fighting against that, although some have criticized the program for funding manure management and other practices shown to have little impact on climate change. “This legislation leverages conservation funding to give farmers a completely voluntary new path forward by providing them with the resources to transition to a more climate-friendly and humane system,” says New York Senator Cory Booker.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.