Keaton PetersThe U.S. government is doubling down on bringing America’s farms and forests to the forefront of fighting climate change. The Department of Agriculture announced $7.7 billion for promoting climate-smart practices on agricultural and forestry lands.
The funding, which is twice the amount allocated for similar purposes last year, marks a leap in the nation’s commitment to sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. The investment is designed to help farmers, ranchers and forestry producers adopt a wide range of conservation practices on working lands that mitigate the effects of climate change, enhance soil health, improve water quality and create better habitats for wildlife.
The $7.7 billion package is sourced from two key areas: $5.7 billion from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and $2 billion from Farm Bill funding. This substantial investment will be distributed across four main programs.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will receive $3.66 billion. EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is allocated $1.54 billion. CSP helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) will receive $922 million. ACEP helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore and enhance wetlands, grasslands and working farms and ranches through conservation easements.
Lastly, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is set to receive up to $1.65 billion. RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners through partnership agreements.
The USDA’s initiative has already shown promising results. Since its implementation in 2023, the program has assisted over 28,500 farmers and ranchers in applying conservation practices to 361 million acres of land. This rapid adoption rate underscores the agricultural community’s readiness to embrace sustainable practices.
Looking ahead, the USDA anticipates that this increased funding will significantly accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture across the nation. The department has also expanded its list of eligible Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities, adding 14 new practices to further broaden the scope of conservation efforts.
Parties interested in tapping into this historic funding can apply through their local USDA Service Center. While applications are accepted year-round, those eyeing fiscal year 2025 funding should submit their applications by their state’s specific deadlines.
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
