Farmers are taking critical action to mitigate the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon in their soil, reducing carbon emissions, providing local food and fiber, and stewarding biodiversity. These actions increase the resiliency of the farm and ensure that the land remains viable and productive for future agricultural use. However, implementing conservation practices can be expensive.
Conservation cost-sharing programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) have set-asides for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, ensuring that a minimum percentage of the funding goes to farmers who need support for these capital-intensive farm improvements most. Set-asides should be increased to help more beginning and BIPOC farmers implement conservation projects.
Recent farm bills include special participation incentives for beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) in EQIP and other conservation programs. USDA is required to set aside 5% of total EQIP funding for BFRs. To keep up with demand, however, Congress should raise the reservation rate for BFRs to 15%. In addition to the funding set-aside, BFRs should remain eligible for higher EQIP rates than other farmers and receive advance payments to begin implementing conservation practices.