The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states. This includes Florida and Georgia. The assistance, available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of …
USDA Provides Millions to Support Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry through Voluntary Conservation
Targeted Environmental Quality Incentives Program Signup to Open in 10 States (WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states. This assistance, available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that …
U.S. Senate Passes Growing Climate Solutions Act
In a bipartisan effort, the U.S. Senate passed the “Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021”. The bill, S.1251, basically creates a new program to self-certify technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers for the agriculture and forestry sectors for voluntary actions that are intended to reduce the amount of air and carbon pollution and for processes to naturally store carbon. It directs the U.S. Department of …
Republicans Launch Conservative Climate Caucus
House Republicans Wednesday launched the Conservative Climate Caucus. The caucus includes more than 50 representatives from every committee with jurisdiction over climate policy and various ranking members. Utah Representative John Curtis chairs the caucus, stating, “We do care about climate – and we already have solutions and plan to find more.” The goal of the Conservative Climate Caucus is to …
NPPC Highlights Efficiency Gains, Reduced GHG Footprint in USDA Climate Comments
In comments submitted last week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) highlighted the efficiency gains made by U.S. pork producers that has brought about significant greenhouse gas reductions and made the sector a global model for environmental sustainability. NPPC wrote, “As it considers federal environmental policies, it is critical that USDA recognize the …
Georgia Awarded RCPP Projects to Help Mitigate Climate Change and Protect Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the investment into two projects in Georgia designed to help mitigate climate change and protect natural resources. In all, USDA is investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships across the nation to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect …
Supporting Ag Carbon Markets
The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021, introduced in the U.S. Senate last week, basically creates a certification program and provides information and technical assistance to ag producers and forestry owners wanting to voluntarily participate in carbon markets. Tyron Spearman has the details.
NCC on Senate Reintroduction of Growing Climate Solutions Act
Last week, the U.S. Senate reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021, legislation that would create a certification program at USDA to help solve technical entry barriers that prevent farmer and forest landowner participation in carbon credit markets. Vice President of Washington Operations for the National Cotton Council (NCC), Reece Langley, says this bipartisan legislation is expected to move its …
Biden Pledges 50 Percent Cut in U.S. Emissions By 2030
Last week, during a virtual Earth Day summit with other world leaders, President Joe Biden pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. A DTN article says biofuel groups are relieved after the president’s plan talked about very low carbon, new generation renewable fuels to help achieve rapid emission reductions in both the auto fleet and aviation. …
Groups Pleased with Introduction of Growing Climate Solutions Act
A new version of the Growing Climate Solutions Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Mike Braun from Indiana introduced the bill, which basically would create a certification program and provide technical assistance and information to agricultural producers and forestry owners wanting to voluntarily participate in carbon markets. A few …