
USDA’s Climate-Smart program up and running
Approximately $3.1 billion will be spent on 141 pilot projects, providing incentives for producers to adopt climate-sensitive practices on working lands.
Approximately $3.1 billion will be spent on 141 pilot projects, providing incentives for producers to adopt climate-sensitive practices on working lands.
Approximately $45 million will be made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to organizations that help underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers and foresters own and operate successful farms.
The bill addresses the shortage of technical service providers who help producers access USDA conservation programs through one-on-one assistance.
The act would double the authorization of current programs from $50 million to $100 million to ensure access to agricultural innovation projects across multiple states.
USDA will provide approximately $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk.
The commission made 32 recommendations for the department to root out discrimination, remove barriers to USDA’s programs and commit to addressing farmworkers’ needs.
In 2022, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency FSA provided nearly $800 million in assistance to distressed borrowers.
Investments include improved risk protection for underserved producers, livestock processing capacity, and disaster and pandemic relief.