Agriculture groups testify to Congress offering support for a bipartisan climate solution bill.
If passed, the Growing Climate Solutions Act will create new producer-friendly resources at the USDA that could help farmers and foresters scale up sustainable practices and tap into new voluntary carbon market rewards. The bill is supported by dozens of ag groups, including the National Farmers Union.
National Farmers Union president, Rob Larew states, “Even in this time of great uncertainty...we cannot overlook this topic. We know that climate change is the single greatest long-term challenge for family farmers and ranchers, rural communities, and global food security. The changing climate is affecting all aspects of our farms. However, we also know that farmers and ranchers, if provided the right tools, can help reduce atmospheric carbon and other greenhouse gases.”
Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member, Debbie Stabenow says that rewarding farmers for their conservation work is a big part of this bill. “I think making sure whatever we move forward on, in terms of the climate crisis, goes through the Department of Agriculture for our farmers and ranchers is also very, very important, and that’s what this bill is all about,” Sen. Stabenow notes.
Sen. Mike Braun introduced the bill to the Senate along with several other members. He says that this will not be a huge change for farmers from what they’re already doing. “The good news is that there are so many farmers that are already doing the things that add value because they want their soil to stay in place,” according to Sen. Braun. The American Farm Bureau president backs that up with statistics on ag production.
Zippy Duval says that despite bad weather, trade wars, and the pandemic, farmers are committed to smart farming and will continue to do so in the future. The climate bill would grow the market for a wide range of projects including land or soil carbon sequestration, livestock emission reductions, reforestation, and improved grassland management, including prescribed grazing.