USDA to fund ‘Climate-Smart’ program

Just under $3 billion was earmarked by the USDA last fall for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program.

Funding has become available in the past few weeks, says Ben West, executive director for Farmers for Soil Health, one of the groups that received $95 million in funding.

This project looks to accelerate long-term cover crop adoption by creating a platform to incentivize farmers, according to a USDA release. The platform will quantify, verify and facilitate the sale of ecosystem benefits, creating a marketplace to generate demand for “climate-smart commodities.”

The lead partner is the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and other major partners include the United Soybean Board, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Pork Board.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.