Source: USDA, 5/25/21
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced an
initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) contracts. This multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP
toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning
tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry
at the center of climate-smart solutions to address climate change.“CRP is a powerful tool for implementing voluntary, measurable conservation outcomes to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Nearly 21 million acres currently enrolled in the program prevent the equivalent of more than 12 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Further quantifying program benefits will allow us to better target CRP to achieve continued climate wins across environmentally sensitive lands while strengthening our modeling and conservation planning resources for all producers.” CRP Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation
Projects FSA has historically worked with partners to identify Monitoring, Assessment
and Evaluation (MAE) projects to quantify CRP environmental
benefits to water quality and quantity, wildlife and rural economies. The
agency will now invest $10 million through this program to measure and monitor
the soil carbon sequestration and other climate and environmental benefits of
conservation practices over the life of CRP contracts. This effort will allow USDA to better target climate
outcomes through CRP while gaining critical data to calibrate, validate and
further improve quantification methods within existing models and tools. One
model of focus is the Daily Century Model, or DayCent, which simulates the
movement of carbon and nitrogen through agricultural systems and informs the National Greenhouse Gas
Inventory. Data will also be used to strengthen the COMET-Farm and COMET-Planner tools, which enable
producers to evaluate potential carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas
emission reductions based on specific management scenarios. Request for Proposals USDA is seeking proposals for projects to survey, sample
and measure the climate benefits of land enrolled in the following CRP practice
types over time: 1. Predominately Perennial grass with legumes and shrubs,
depending on the practice 2. Tree 3. Wetland, including both mineral and organic soils and
both floodplain and non-floodplain wetlands A project can cover one or more of the above practice
types and should be for a three- to five-year term, with the potential for
renewal. Projects should be a minimum of $1 million and not exceed $9 million. Applications are welcome from all types of organizations,
including public, private and nonprofit institutions. Project proposals can be
from a single entity or from a group of partners who coordinate efforts.
Applications from or in partnership with Historically Black Colleges &
Universities (HBCU), Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCU) and
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) or organizations will be considered as part
of the selection process. The deadline for proposals is July 2, 2021. Visit the request for proposals for
more information on requirements, project deliverables, evaluation criteria and
how to submit your proposal. Visit FSA’s Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation page for additional information on
CRP MAEs. Conservation Reserve Program CRP is one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with an established track record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon, reducing nitrogen runoff and providing healthy habitat for wildlife. In exchange for a yearly rental payment, agricultural
producers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive
land from production and plant species that will improve environmental health
and quality. Land is enrolled in CRP for 10 to 15 years, with the option of
re-enrollment. FSA offers multiple CRP
signups, including the general signup and continuous signup – both currently open – as well as CRP Grasslands and pilot programs focused on soil health and clean water. In April, USDA announced updates
to CRP including higher payment rates, new incentives for environmental practices and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. This included a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive for CRP general and continuous signups that aims to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-Smart CRP practices include establishment of trees and permanent grasses, development of wildlife habitat and wetland restoration. Download our “What’s New” fact sheet to learn more about program updates. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity and natural resources including our soil, air and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local and Tribal governments. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and
lender.
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