Funding Opportunities for Farmers and Landowners to Address Climate Change

Historic Investment in Conservation and Climate Solutions

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a groundbreaking $1.5 billion funding opportunity for fiscal year 2024 through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This investment, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aims to support partner-driven conservation and climate solutions to enhance natural resources and combat the climate crisis.

Increased Impact Across the Landscape

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals until July 2, 2024, to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt conservation strategies that can save money, create new revenue streams, and boost productivity. The funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is estimated to benefit over 180,000 farms and 225 million acres in the next 5 years.

Streamlined Funding Opportunities

The funding, made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, includes two separate opportunities: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). The priorities for the 2024 RCPP funding are climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice.

Supporting Underserved Communities

The funding aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that 40 percent of benefits from federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. It also advances the America the Beautiful initiative, promoting conservation efforts by farmers, ranchers, and private landowners. NRCS encourages proposals led by historically underserved entities or Indian tribes.

RCPP Improvement Efforts

NRCS is implementing improvements to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program based on feedback from partners and stakeholders. These enhancements include streamlining agreement negotiation, updating policy tools, conducting training, and delegating authority to State Conservationists. The goal is to reduce negotiation time and enhance the program’s efficiency.

Inflation Reduction Act Funding

The Inflation Reduction Act provides $19.5 billion over five years to support conservation programs, with $4.95 billion allocated to RCPP. This act, part of President Biden’s agenda, represents a significant investment in climate and clean energy solutions. It aims to support USDA’s conservation programs and address climate challenges.

Transforming America’s Food System

In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is focused on transforming the food system by promoting local and regional food production, ensuring fair markets for producers, expanding access to nutritious food, and investing in clean energy infrastructure. The department is committed to equity and removing barriers to create a more representative workforce.

To learn more about these funding opportunities and USDA’s initiatives, visit www.usda.gov.

Read More of this Story at www.freshfruitportal.com – 2024-04-03 19:10:37

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