The U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for the $1 billion Climate-Smart Commodities program to assist producers implementing climate-smart practices on working lands. The program will fund pilot projects that reduce greenhouse gases and/or carbon sequestration on farms or ranches, or within forestry practices. USDA recently held a webinar on the program for eligible applicants, including counties, and also extended the application deadline. Applications for the first funding pool ($5 million to $100 million projects) are due on April 8, and applications for the second funding pool ($250,000 to under $5 million projects) are due on May 27. To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity, click here.

The Climate-Smart Commodities program will fund projects for counties, small businesses and other eligible applicants to implement agricultural or forestry practices that include, but are not limited to:

• Cover crops
• Low-till or no-till
• Nutrient management
• Enhanced efficiency fertilizers
• Manure management
• Feed management to reduce enteric emissions
• Buffers, wetland and grassland management, and tree planting on working lands
• Agroforestry and afforestation on working lands
• Afforestation/reforestation and sustainable forest management
• Planting for high carbon sequestration rate
• Maintaining and improving forest soil quality
• Increase on-site carbon storage through forest stand management
• Alternate wetting and drying on rice fields
• Climate-smart pasture practices, such as prescribed grazing or legume interseeding
• Soil amendments, like biochar

USDA anticipates funding to be available as early as summer 2022 and projects may be between 1-5 years. For more information on the program, visit the program page or view the FAQs.

Agriculture and related agribusiness remain a vital part of the U.S. economy and are a major contributor to economic activity throughout the world. As stewards of the environment, counties support agricultural reforms that will protect and improve the health of the environment of all Americans through the promotion of environmental stewardship and conservation.