Supporting Ag Carbon Markets

Dan Biofuels/Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Forestry, Peanuts

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. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024

NCC on Senate Reintroduction of Growing Climate Solutions Act

Dan Climate Change, Cotton, Environment, Legislative

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

Dan Biofuels/Energy, Climate Change, Environment

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. …

Biden’s 30X30 Proposal Causing Concern Among U.S. Agriculture

Dan Conservation, Environment, Legislative

The American Farm Bureau Federation is one of many agriculture groups calling on the Biden Administration to act responsibly when it comes to conservation. Biden’s goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030, commonly known as “30X30,” is raising many questions. A letter to the administration makes three key requests: that the administration provides …

Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett: Sparked the Creation of a Conservation Agency

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

Today’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners are better prepared to maintain healthy and resilient soil due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the Soil Conservation Service’s (SCS) first Chief and the Father of Soil Conservation, born 140 years ago on April 15, 1881. A maverick and visionary, Bennett knew that productive soils would help farmers, ranchers …

U.S. Drought Monitor: Tale of Two Regions

Dan Drought, Environment, Weather

The Western U.S., in the latest Drought Monitor released Thursday, shows much of the region in drought categories, with several areas classified in extreme or exceptional drought, the two most severe categories. Comparatively, the Eastern U.S. is mostly drought-free from the Eastern seaboard to the Central Plains. Drawing a line from the eastern border of Texas to the North is …

USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions

Dan Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22. NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They …

Environmental Stewardship Natural for Dairy

Dan Dairy, Environment

Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22nd, and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) notes this will be a natural opportunity to highlight dairy’s commitment to environmental stewardship. NMPF Senior Director for Sustainability Initiatives and leader of Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development for the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program, Nicole Ayache, says carrying for our natural …

Coalition Asks for Increased Conservation Funding

Dan Conservation, Environment

Seventy of the top agriculture, conservation, and wildlife groups delivered a letter to Congress last week asking for robust funding for conservation programs and technical assistance for the fiscal year 2022. In the letter, groups like the American Farmland Trust, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and many others called on House and Senate appropriators to provide necessary robust increases …

Petition Asks EPA to Regulate Large Livestock Farms

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Environment, Livestock, Pork

Two dozen environmental and consumer groups are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate large dairy and hog farms under federal air pollution laws. Groups like the Sierra Club and the Government Accountability Project say in their petition that “The EPA has the duty and authority to regulate these methane super-emitters under the Clean Air Act as part of …