Biden-Harris Administration Makes Available Historic $3 Billion for Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands Through Investing in America Agenda

Agricultural Producers Can Now Apply for Fiscal Year 2024 Conservation Assistance, Highest in History

WASHINGTON, September 28, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making more than $3 billion in funding available for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The announcement comes as the Biden-Harris Administration hosts the first-ever White House Climate Resilience Summit.

These funds are provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate and conservation investment in history. This law invests an additional $19.5 billion for USDA’s popular conservation programs. These programs also advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. On the heels of last week’s announcement that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) saw record producer interest in these resources in fiscal year 2023, the agency is now accepting applications from producers interested in this additional conservation assistance for fiscal year 2024.

Introduction

Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, we have additional resources to invest in climate-smart practices as we continue to see high demand for these popular conservation programs. This funding will be used to meet producer demand for our oversubscribed programs and maximize climate benefits across the country while also providing other important environmental benefits. This includes investing in popular common-sense practices such as cover crops, waste and fertilizer management, and grazing practices, while continuing to work through existing programs to help producers address other natural resource challenges. Ultimately, this will lead to economic opportunity for producers, more productive soil, cleaner water and air, healthier wildlife habitat and natural resource conservation for future generations.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 2: Zero Hunger
2. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
3. Goal 13: Climate Action
4. Goal 15: Life on Land

Expansion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Activities supported by the Inflation Reduction Act

• NRCS is increasing Climate-Smart Agricultural and Forestry Mitigation Activities eligible for Inflation Reduction Act funding for fiscal year 2024 through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
• These in-demand activities are expected to deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or increases in carbon sequestration as well as significant other benefits to natural resources like soil health, water quality, pollinator and wildlife habitat and air quality.
• NRCS considered and evaluated activities based on scientific literature demonstrating expected climate change mitigation benefits.

Expansion of priorities for the ACEP investments through the Inflation Reduction Act

• NRCS is expanding the national priority areas eligible for Inflation Reduction Act funding for Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP) easements in fiscal year 2024.
• For ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), NRCS is prioritizing securing:
• Grasslands in areas of highest risk for conversion to non-grassland uses to prevent the release of soil carbon stores.
• Agricultural lands under threat of conversion to non-agricultural uses.
• State-specific priorities including rice cultivation on subsiding highly organic soils.
• For ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), NRCS is prioritizing:
• Land with soils high in organic carbon.
• Eligible lands that will be restored to and managed as forests like bottomland hardwood forests.
• Eligible lands in existing forest cover that will be managed as forests.
• Several geographically specific priorities (i.e., former cranberry bogs, wet meadows, and ephemeral wetlands in grassland ecosystems).

Background

The Inflation Reduction Act provides funds to the EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). For fiscal year 2024, which begins Oct. 1, 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act provides an additional $1.65 billion for EQIP, $472 million for CSP, and $189 million for ACEP, and $754 million for RCPP.

How to Apply

NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round, but producers interested in this cycle of Inflation Reduction Act funding should apply as soon as possible. Producers interested in EQIP or CSP should apply by their state’s ranking dates for consideration this year. Funding is provided through a competitive process and will include an opportunity to address the unmet demand from producers who have previously sought funding for climate-smart conservation activities.

Similarly, NRCS accepts applications year-round for ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), producers interested in this funding cycle must apply by Nov. 13, 2023. NRCS will also consider previously unfunded

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the availability of funding for agricultural producers and forest landowners to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, the article mentions the benefits of these conservation programs for natural resources like soil health, water quality, pollinator and wildlife habitat, and air quality, which are relevant to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

The article highlights the funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to support conservation programs and climate-smart practices. This funding aligns with Target 13.2, as it aims to integrate climate change measures into national policies by investing in climate-smart agricultural practices. The conservation programs mentioned in the article also contribute to Target 15.1 by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems through activities such as cover cropping, wetland restoration, and tree planting.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, Indicator 13.2.1 can be used to measure progress towards Target 13.2 by assessing the number of countries that have integrated climate change measures into their national policies and planning, which includes investments in climate-smart agricultural practices. Indicator 15.1.1 can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.1 by monitoring the forest area as a proportion of total land area, which can be influenced by conservation efforts and tree planting initiatives mentioned in the article.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: usda.gov

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