The center providing plant solutions in a diverse climate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Lockeford Plant Materials Center is a 106-acre facility located in the Central Valley of California. It’s about an hour southeast of the state’s capitol, Sacramento, and is the only plant materials in the state. The center provides plant solutions for the diverse …
Sea-Level May Rise One Foot by 2050 along U.S. Coasts
The United States is expected to experience as much sea-level rise by the year 2050 as it witnessed in the previous hundred years. That’s according to a NOAA-led report updating sea level increases for the U.S. The Sea Level Rise Technical Report provides the most up-to-date projections for all U.S. states and territories by decade for the next 100 years …
Climate Change Debate during House Ag Subcommittee Hearing
During a U.S. House Ag Subcommittee hearing this week, Representative Austin Scott of Georgia had a debate with USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie about climate change. Sabrina Halvorson has the story.
USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Commodities
Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will deliver on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, …
Conservation Program Opportunities Support Climate Smart Agriculture in Alabama
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind producers and landowners across the state about several new and expanded opportunities for climate smart agriculture in 2022. These updates include availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option. It is a new and streamlined EQIP Cover Crop Initiative which includes added flexibilities for producers to easily re-enroll …
Infrastructure Bill Has Big Boost for Climate-Smart Agriculture
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or as some call it the Build Back Better bill, is an infrastructure package focused on creating American jobs, rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, and combatting the climate crisis. And according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the bill has a big boost for climate-smart agriculture. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow had this …
USDA Unveils New Climate Partnership Initiative, Requests Public Input
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to partnering with agriculture, forestry and rural communities to develop climate solutions that strengthen rural America. Thus, they are requesting public comments on a new climate partnership initiative designed to create new revenue streams for producers via market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. USDA will support a set of pilot …
Cattle Industry Commits to Climate Neutrality by 2040
During last week’s Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) solidified U.S. cattle ranchers’ commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability with the release of U.S. cattle industry sustainability goals. The goals call for demonstrating climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040. NCBA past president Marty Smith said, “By setting goals, we’re publicly committing to …
Thompson Seeks House Hearing on Senate Climate Bill
The top Republican on the House Ag Committee calls for a hearing on the Senate Growing Climate Solutions Act. In a letter to Chairman David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, Glen GT Thompson of Pennsylvania says, “I write to express concerns with this legislation and request further review by the House Committee on Agriculture.” Thompson has maintained concerns of government involvement …
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Practices Program is Part of EQIP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $10 million has been earmarked to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 states, including Florida and Georgia. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Deputy Chief of Programs, Jimmy Bramblett, says this pilot program is associated with a NRCS program many producers may already be familiar with, EQIP. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program …