The USDA is now accepting applications for a new climate partnership called Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. There is $1 billion to finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for farmers to implement conservation practices, quantify greenhouse gas benefits associated with those practices and create markets to promote results. “Our goal will be to fund a portfolio of projects that will include a wide range of agriculture and forestry operations. The diversity of producers and landowners needs to be large and small,” said Tom Vilsack, secretary, USDA. “The first round of applications will be due on April 8. These will fund large projects, and I mean large projects, where the grant funding could be $5 million, $50 million or more. The second deadline for smaller proposals is May 27.” The $1 billion in funding is coming from the Commodity Credit Corporation. “This $1 billion commitment will in no way interfere with our use of the CCC for other purposes including funding farm bill programs. We are confident we have the resources to do it all.”
News Categories
Latest RRFN Podcasts
Subscribe to RRFN
Get a weekly digest from RRFN to stay up-to-date on all the latest news in agriculture.