The United States Department of Agriculture will allocate $1 billion to help farmers across the country develop ways to address climate change, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today.
“As farmers, we are committed to being good stewards of the land and to addressing environmental issues,” said Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “We are pleased that USDA is addressing climate challenges with a voluntary, incentive-based approach that recognizes the need to provide flexibility for farmers.”
USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities will use funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, to stand up pilot projects that implement climate-smart conservation practices on farms. A climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.
State and local governments, commodity groups, businesses, tribal governments and nonprofits are encouraged to apply. Applications for projects worth over $5 million are due April 8, while applications for projects that cost $250,000 to $5 million are due on May 27.
