U.S. Department of Agriculture announced available funding for climate-smart agriculture nationwide for participation in conservation programs and adopting climate-smart practices.
The Inflation Reduction Act is providing an additional $19.5 billion over five years through conservation programs implemented by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, according to a Feb. 13 USDA news release.
"The Inflation Reduction Act provided a once-in-a-generation investment in conservation on working lands, and we want to work with agricultural and forest landowners to invest in climate-smart practices that create value and economic opportunity for producers," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. "We know that agriculture plays a critical role in the nation’s effort to address climate change, we’re using this funding to bolster our existing programs, maximize climate benefits and foster other environmental benefits across the landscape."
Vilsack made his comments while speaking before the National Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting, the release reported.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is making $850 million available for fiscal year 2023 in its oversubscribed conservation programs, according to the release. Those programs are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The Inflation Reduction Act funding aims to help farmers apply conservation measures to millions of acres of land, such as $300 million to quantify carbon sequestration and green house gases through field data, as well as improve conservation practices and customer assistance, the release reported.
The Inflation Reduction Act also provides funding for direct climate mitigation and expands access to technical and financial assistance for farmers, ranchers and forest land owners, according to the release. The money is intended to support conservation practices such as cover cropping, wetland restoration and tree planting.
USDA also plans to measure and report on the benefits of these investments, including water conservation and wildlife habitat improvements, the release reported.
