US Lawmakers Propose Incentives for Climate-Friendly Livestock Practices
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 9:41 am ET
1min read ANSC --
CSPI --
US lawmakers are considering proposals to incentivize livestock farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices, aiming to reduce the agricultural sector's environmental impact. The proposed measures, outlined in the Senate's farm bill proposal, seek to encourage farmers to adopt practices that lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health, and enhance water quality.
The Senate proposal, released by Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), includes several key initiatives to support farmers harmed by extreme weather events and promote climate-smart agriculture. One of the primary goals is to ensure that the climate guardrails included in the Inflation Reduction Act are applied to future conservation investments.
The proposal aims to modernize existing USDA programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), to consider carbon sequestration potential and greenhouse gas emission reductions when reviewing applications. Additionally, the proposal seeks to expand the USDA's capacity to secure long-term and permanent easements through the CRP, which would help build soil carbon and increase CRP payments to farmers enrolling hard-to-farm land.
The Senate proposal also focuses on reducing methane emissions from livestock and their waste, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to create a new focus on methane reduction in the EQIP program and recognize the risk that farmers may face income losses when adopting emission-reducing practices.
The proposed incentives address the needs and concerns of small-scale and marginalized livestock farmers by providing financial assistance and technical support for adopting climate-friendly practices. This includes offering tailored support for farmers in underserved communities, ensuring that the benefits of these programs are equitably distributed.
To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these incentives, the USDA will periodically update the standards used to decide which practices to fund and double funding for research into innovative practices that reduce emissions and build soil carbon. The department will also develop a standard method for measuring soil carbon and create a new program to inventory soil carbon changes.
The success of these incentives will be evaluated through ongoing monitoring and assessment, with adjustments made to future programs based on the results. This will ensure that the USDA's conservation programs effectively support farmers in adopting climate-friendly practices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
In conclusion, the proposed incentives for climate-friendly livestock practices in the Senate's farm bill proposal aim to address the environmental impact of the agricultural sector while supporting farmers in adopting sustainable practices. By modernizing existing programs and providing financial assistance and technical support, lawmakers seek to promote a more climate-resilient and sustainable future for the livestock industry.
The Senate proposal, released by Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), includes several key initiatives to support farmers harmed by extreme weather events and promote climate-smart agriculture. One of the primary goals is to ensure that the climate guardrails included in the Inflation Reduction Act are applied to future conservation investments.
The proposal aims to modernize existing USDA programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), to consider carbon sequestration potential and greenhouse gas emission reductions when reviewing applications. Additionally, the proposal seeks to expand the USDA's capacity to secure long-term and permanent easements through the CRP, which would help build soil carbon and increase CRP payments to farmers enrolling hard-to-farm land.
The Senate proposal also focuses on reducing methane emissions from livestock and their waste, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to create a new focus on methane reduction in the EQIP program and recognize the risk that farmers may face income losses when adopting emission-reducing practices.
The proposed incentives address the needs and concerns of small-scale and marginalized livestock farmers by providing financial assistance and technical support for adopting climate-friendly practices. This includes offering tailored support for farmers in underserved communities, ensuring that the benefits of these programs are equitably distributed.
To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these incentives, the USDA will periodically update the standards used to decide which practices to fund and double funding for research into innovative practices that reduce emissions and build soil carbon. The department will also develop a standard method for measuring soil carbon and create a new program to inventory soil carbon changes.
The success of these incentives will be evaluated through ongoing monitoring and assessment, with adjustments made to future programs based on the results. This will ensure that the USDA's conservation programs effectively support farmers in adopting climate-friendly practices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
In conclusion, the proposed incentives for climate-friendly livestock practices in the Senate's farm bill proposal aim to address the environmental impact of the agricultural sector while supporting farmers in adopting sustainable practices. By modernizing existing programs and providing financial assistance and technical support, lawmakers seek to promote a more climate-resilient and sustainable future for the livestock industry.