Climate, agriculture, and the health of a nation are intrinsically linked. In retrospect, we can see the damage to all three during the tenure of Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture from 1971 to 1976 under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. His mantra to farmers was “get big or get out”, and his policy shifts coincided with the rise of major agribusiness corporations, and the declining financial stability of the small family farm. The decisions that farmers made about which crops to grow and how to grow them were (and still are) based on government-manipulated economic considerations (subsidies) rather than their true economic, environmental, or social ramifications. Corn and soybeans were the “commodity crop” that were eligible for subsidies, and farmers were strongly encouraged to use pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This is the background for STAY COOL’s January book selection: Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America. The 2007 documentary film “King Corn” highlights why the abundance of corn is made into high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient found in many cheap food products, including fast food. More fattening than cane sugar, there is a strong correlation between the increasing obesity rate and the increasing production of corn syrup.
According to the USDA, the nation’s agriculture sector accounted for 11 percent of the country’s carbon emissions in 2020. Roughly every five years, lawmakers pass The Farm Bill, a spending bill that addresses the agriculture industry, food systems, nutrition programs, and more. This legislation is up for reauthorization in 2023. This is your opportunity to be a climate and health advocate!
How do farming practices impact the climate? Carbon dioxide is emitted by farm equipment moving across the farm’s fields during tilling, planting, the application of pesticides and fertilizers, and harvest. The more passes across the farm field, the more carbon that is emitted. The largest source of animal-produced methane is in the liquid manure stored in lagoons, which are manure storage structures and holding pits used in swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Lastly, the largest source of nitrous oxide is from synthetic fertilizer.
In 2021, the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA) proposed that USDA take a more active role in supporting carbon markets. It passed through the Senate with bipartisan support, however, it has remained stalled in the House. The Act aims to give landowners resources from the USDA to help provide access to expertise that can help farmers implement practices to sequester carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Act also would create a USDA certification program to help solve technical entry barriers for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to access revenues for climate-smart practices. As the GCSA has not moved forward, the 2023 Farm Bill may be the best opportunity to address carbon markets in the near future.
The Farm Bill Law Enterprise has recommendations for the Bill that will provide support structures for farmers participating in carbon markets. Carbon markets require the use of sustainable farming practices, such as planting a winter cover crop and reducing tillage, to sequester carbon in the soil. Through carbon markets farmers can generate sellable credits by quantifying the carbon stored in their soils. Additionally, USDA could ensure that agricultural extension and land grant institutions are able to advise farmers on the adoption of underlying practices and the programs available to support them in transitioning to these new practices.
What can you do? As we read in Lentil Underground, it is an uphill battle for those who choose to farm in a way that is good for the land, the climate, and the health of the nation. Research local farms in your area to learn more about their practices. Whenever possible, buy organic. Keep informed about the 2023 Farm Bill and lend your voice to coalitions like FBLE who are taking a lead in advocating for sustainable farming. Check out The Hill’s Five Things to Watch for in Next Year’s “Climate” Farm Bill.
This article was contributed by STAY COOL Advisor Linda Giannelli Pratt.
