OPINION: Why farmers should take advantage of climate-smart ag programs

Nobody works harder than our nation’s farmers. Rain or shine, farmers roll up their sleeves to help put food on our tables and power our communities. But it’s no secret that the agriculture sector faces growing challenges. From a changing climate to high input costs to fluctuating commodity prices, farmers must take steps to adapt to an evolving landscape. 

 The good news is farmers don’t have to tackle these challenges alone. Farmers can continue to stay one step ahead and contribute to a lower-carbon future by implementing climate-smart agriculture practices that also improve the health of their soils and crops and, therefore, their economic resilience. These could include improving fertilizer management practices and adopting low- or no-tillage systems. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports farmers through new partnerships such as the Climate Smart Commodities projects, which fund initiatives that create new market opportunities for farmers. In fact, USDA will help more than 60,000 farms totaling 25 million acres of farmland participate in climate-smart production practices and lower-carbon harvests through these partnerships. 

When farmers choose to take advantage of these programs, they use modern science and technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, capture more soil carbon through the crop production process, and improve crop yields. These crops can then be used to develop lower-carbon biofuels, like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), while also producing animal, pet, and aquaculture nutrition products in the process. In essence, growers can choose to add value to crops that they grow on land they already farm. All of this can be done by using existing land for good – furthering our goal of achieving a circular economy. 

However, I understand some farmers may be hesitant to give new practices a try. Risk will always be a factor in a farmer's line of work—but it’s measuring that risk versus reward that makes all the difference. For example, Gevo’s Farm-to-Flight initiative, supported by the USDA Climate Smart Commodities program, rewards farmers for adopting climate-smart ag practices, while also rewarding the outcome of those decisions – which is a lower carbon intensity crop grown on that acre. The program tracks and quantifies the carbon-intensity (CI) impact of climate-smart practices while creating market incentives for low-CI corn to help accelerate the production of SAF and low-CI ethanol. With Gevo’s program, farmers reduce their risk by receiving market-based incentives from USDA and are supported by both USDA and Gevo in the process. After meeting a farmer where they are today and measuring the carbon intensity of their crop, any farmer who chooses to try a new lower-carbon practice within this program receives help along the way. 

In addition to risk sharing, farmers also benefit in the marketplace when they understand the CI of their crop. Lowering your CI means you’re more likely to receive a premium for that crop. When farmers choose to implement more sustainable agriculture techniques to lower their CI, it’s a win-win by supporting the resilience of their farm and a cleaner planet. 

As an agronomist, I’m eager to learn everything I can about what we can do agronomically to reduce the carbon intensity of a crop or agricultural product. This is good for the soil and plant and provides both short and long-term benefits to our food systems. I also want to make it clear that agronomists like me aim to give the best advice possible so that growers make the decision that works best for them and their crop. But the evidence speaks for itself: when farmers choose to implement climate-smart ag practices, it’s better for the environment and creates more revenue opportunities, positively impacting both farmers' time and money. 

At the end of the day, my objective as an agronomist is to be a trusted advisor to farmers by giving them the resources and tools they need to make the best decision for themselves, their families, and their farm's future. Taking advantage of climate-smart ag practices and sharing the burden of risk will give farmers more opportunities for growth all while agriculture grows as a climate solution. When you do the right thing for your crops, economic gains follow. It’s that simple. 

Chandler Mazour is an agronomist and grower program lead at Verity Carbon Solutions, working to measure, track and improve the carbon intensity of agricultural systems.