It’s something ranchers have known all along, but a 200-page plan from the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee recommends the industry can contribute to solving the climate crisis.
The report titled, “The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Energy Economic for the American People,” outlines a congressional action plan to tackle climate change through 15 policy proposals.
Included in the policy proposals are actions in which farmers and ranchers can significantly solve the climate crisis and make money in the process.
“Climate change is not a future or hypothetical problem for agriculture—more frequent and severe weather events are already making it more difficult for family farmers and ranchers to grow food,” Rob Larew, president of National Farmers Union, said in a press release. “The good news is that on-farm conservation practices, renewable energy production, the expanded use of biofuels, and market-based initiatives can help curb carbon emissions, temper climate change, and provide the tools farmers need to adapt to its effects.
“National Farmers Union is glad to see that the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis recognizes the unique challenges farmers face and the critical role they must play in building resilience. As lawmakers continue to develop climate policies, we urge them to incorporate these practical and effective strategies and ensure farmers have a strong voice in the process.”
The report highlights climate change will stunt economic growth, causing people and businesses to lose income and property value, disrupt business operations and supply chains, and permanently shut many companies.
According to a peer-reviewed study cited by the report, “Climate-driven temperature changes alone could cost the United States 9 percent of GDP by 2060 compared to a no-warming scenario.”
To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 would require 2 percent GDP per year due to some economic sectors, which are more significant contributors to global warming. However, inaction will result in catastrophic events and spending in an unproductive manner, according to the report.
The report is similar in context to the 547-page report from the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, titled the Climate Crisis Action Plan, but explains further what agriculture can do to fight climate change.
Agriculture’s role
Citing the 19.4 million acres not planted due to record flooding in 2019 and the loss of jobs and production from droughts that have affected the Western states, farmers and ranchers have the tools to improve production and increase resiliency, according to the report.
“Certain farming and ranching practices can also draw significant carbon from the atmosphere, and when this service is assessed a value, it can mean new income for farmers and ranchers,” the report stated.
Farmers and ranchers have been sequestering carbon for a long time as part of the practices that keep their soil healthy and productive. The National Academies of Sciences has reported carbon storage in soils is “the most cost-effective carbon removal technique available today,” and rotational grazing has shown potential to increase carbon storage on working lands.
The report notes existing programs reward farmers and ranchers for conservation practices such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. However, demand for these programs consistently exceeds funding availability, and they do not fully offset the cost of expanding or implementing new activities. The report is asking to restore and expand funding for the Conservation Technical Assistance program.
Additionally, the report acknowledges the current “cap-and-trade” programs where states and entities pay livestock owners for their carbon sequestration.
“Still, the lack of a consistent and easy-to-use method for measuring and accounting for the amount of carbon stored in soil is a major challenge for compensating farmers, especially in entirely private and voluntary markets,” the report states. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service worked with Colorado State University to develop the COMET-Farm online tool for farmers and ranchers to estimate and evaluate options for reducing emissions and sequestering more carbon on their land.
Like the House Select Committee’s report, to combat the methane emissions from livestock, the recommendation is for manure digesters. Still, the report notes the cost of installation could be offset by incorporating the added value of the renewable fuel into its price.
Lastly, marketing can also provide opportunities for increased profits when products are marketed based on unique characteristics. The report recommended marketing tools for additional income include expanding existing USDA programs—including the Local Agriculture Market Program, encourage direct-to-consumer sales, and establishing a label for climate-friendly activities.
“Farmers and ranchers work at the frontlines of climate change. As stewards of our shared natural resources, they hold a unique position to sequester carbon in our country’s soils through best management practices for soil health, crop and livestock integration, and agroforestry,” Eric Deeble, policy director of National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, said in a press release.
“The Special Committee’s recommendations to expand USDA financial and technical assistance for conservation programs to increase soil health and soil carbon storage incentives to promote widespread adoption of regenerative practices are excellent first steps Congress can take to support a more resilient agriculture.
“Sustainable agricultural practices not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon, but they also provide manifold environmental and economic benefits to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
