Agriculture researchers say if the U.S. wants more farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices, they will need to be offered some proven incentives, and a new grant puts Iowa in the driver s seat to try and find them. An $80 million federal grant has been awarded to Iowa State University and several partners to help farmers invest in planting cover crops and perennial prairie grass. .
Managed grazing is one of several ways farmers can implement climate-friendly practices, and after a lengthy absence, a key source of federal aid has been restored. Late this summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $12 million to be shared by groups providing technical assistance for farmers considering managed grazing. .
While it s named the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation in the Senate actually goes a long way toward making agriculture more climate-resilient. The measure provides roughly $370 billion for energy security and climate-change programs over the next 10 years. Amalie Lipstreu, policy director for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, said one key piece is a $3.25 billion investment in the Conservation Stewardship Program, which provides technical and financial support to farmers to implement and maintain applications to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and improve soil health. .
A U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday highlighting the threat climate change poses to the world s food supply, and how farmers can be assisted in adopting solutions. Testimony included input from a Minnesota farmer. .