Support Foresters, Farmers, and Ranchers Using Responsible, Climate-Friendly Land Practices
Background
Not all agriculture is good for the planet, but regenerative agriculture and forestry practices are climate-friendly, not only sequestering carbon, but building healthy soil that retains water and increases habitat for wildlife and pollinating insects. Additionally, lands that are managed in a way that centers soil health are more resilient to climate extremes such as flooding and drought. These methods have been used by Black and Indigenous communities for generations, and they are increasingly being employed more broadly by farmers across the country.[1] States across the country are exploring ways to improve soil health through policy.
The gold standard of regenerative farming practices is managed grazing (also called intensive rotational grazing), in which ruminants like bison, cattle, sheep, or goats graze on a rotation of perennial grasses. The practice sequesters carbon, builds soil health and moisture absorption, and reduces fuels in fire-prone regions. Pasture-based livestock farms and ranches also offer an array of beneficial environmental services and can contribute to the rural economy by providing healthy food for the local community. There is a wide range of policy options to promote healthy soils and climate-friendly farm practices in ways that will work in any political environment, and managed grazing should be incentivized and prioritized whenever possible.
Well-managed state forest lands also provide rural communities with economic opportunities and environmental benefits. State policymakers should consider public land forest management that protects mature forests and caps annual timber harvest. Many states have passed legislation similar to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA),[2] which requires an environmental analysis of activities on state-owned lands. Any state-level environmental protection act should ensure robust public comment, environmental analysis, and assessment of the impact on Indigenous communities and the climate. Policy to actively manage the wild/urban interface through prescribed fire, small-diameter thinning, and managed grazing can help to reduce fuels and protect communities from catastrophic wildfire. On private forest lands, policymakers should consider policies to incentivize sustainable management practices that protect clean water, promote carbon sequestration, and protect habitat. Practices that should be disincentivized on private land include streamside logging, clear-cutting (particularly on slopes), and use of pesticides and herbicides. Finally, policymakers should consider the financial aspects of the timber economy and consider creating economic trusts or other structures that separate county budgets from the timber harvest, to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle of reliance on a single industry. [1] Penniman, Leah. “Black Farmers Embrace Practices of Climate Resiliency.” YES! Magazine, 18 Dec. 2019, https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2019/12/18/climate-black-farmers. [2] Council on Environmental Quality. “States and Local Jurisdictions with NEPA-like Environmental Planning Requirements.” National Environmental Policy Act, https://ceq.doe.gov/laws-regulations/states.html.
Policy Priorities
- Federal: Pass the Agriculture Resilience Act, a bill that helps protect water quality and confront the impacts of climate change on American farms by funding climate change research, improving climate-related crop insurance, improving the strength of conservation compliance, funding on-farm renewable energy and other provisions.
- State: Incentivize healthy soils and conservation stewardship
- State: Prioritize managed grazing.
- State: Protect state forests.
State Examples
- Nebraska (2019 NE LB 243) enacted legislation to establish a Healthy Soils Task Force, which is responsible for developing an action plan and timeline to implement soil quality benchmarks.
- Indiana (2021 IN SB 373) is one of several states that has directed state agencies to study and make recommendations for the role of the state in a voluntary carbon market.
- Colorado (2021 CO HB 1181), Texas (2021 TX SB 1118), Kansas (2022 KS HB2310), Maine (2021 ME LD 437), and Oregon (2023 OR HB 2998) have established healthy soil programs or conservation programs that protect soil and water.
- Colorado passed legislation to launch a study on the biomass in the state and create policy recommendations for improving soil health, and another bill to leverage federal COVID-19 stimulus money to fund their soil health program (2021 CO SB 235 and HB 1180).
- The New York (2021 NY A 5386) Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act establishes a program to assist farmers in improving the health of their soil. The bill creates a funding stream to support research and provides matching grants to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement water management systems on farmland, and encourage soil health and resiliency. The program is designed to prioritize socially disadvantaged farmers.
- Minnesota’s (2021 MN HF 701) soil health bill not only centers race and equity but also sets an ambitious goal that 100 percent of tillable and grazeable acres employ cover crops, perennial crops, no-till, or managed rotational grazing by 2040.
- New Mexico (2021 NM HB 9) policymakers considered allowing taxpayers to select donating their tax refund to fund the state’s soil health program.
- Minnesota (2021 MN HF 701) lawmakers introduced a bill to establish soil-healthy farming goals and incentives. Policymakers can also consider incentives to employ responsible managed grazing practices on state-held lands.
- In Illinois (2023 IL SB1701) the Healthy Soils Initiative was created by Partners for Conservation Reauthorization Act and directs the state Department of Agriculture to work with Conservation Districts and other agencies on a soil health framework.
- The Resilient Soils and Water Quality Act in Nebraska (2023 NE LB925) aims to promote best practices for healthy soil, protect and improve soil and water quality and public health, while enhancing farm profitability.
- Missouri (2024 MO HB 2046) updated the state’s definition of healthy soil practices to include managed grazing, integration of animals, silvopasture and agroforestry.
- Hawai’i (2023 HI SB305) looked at creating a career and technical education working group to strengthen career and technical education in public schools. Includes careers such as urban grower and regenerative agriculturist.
- A bill to strengthen local food systems in Massachusetts (2023 MA H88) includes grants to schools and training programs for farmer training. Priority to programs serving minority or low-income students and those offering training in farm practices that mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
- A bill in Wisconsin (2023 WI SB 619) would have created a transition to grass pilot program to support livestock producers who are implementing grass-based managed grazing systems.
- South Dakota (2024 SCR 605) passed a concurrent resolution affirming the value of grassland ecosystems and recognizing the crucial role of farmers and ranchers in managing these landscapes.
- Wisconsin (2022 WI SB 692) expanded financeable projects under the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) to include projects such as Agroforestry, Silvopasture, and resiliency projects to mitigate against storms, wind, fire, and flooding. Several states have state National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-like laws that trigger an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or review of any project that could potentially negatively impact state lands. State NEPA laws can be an important tool to protect state forests.[3]