By Blake Jackson
A new conservation program is helping farmers measure the environmental benefits of sustainable practices, with hopes of expanding across the Midwest. Farmers for Sustainable Food recently completed the first year of its Climate Smart Program, showing significant reductions in carbon emissions.
"That's the kind of impact that we're seeing just on 53 farms," she said. "So we're really looking forward to years two and beyond when we'll have double, quadruple that number of farmers participating and data to share." said Lauren Brey, managing director of the organization.
The initiative, supported by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and a $50 million federal grant, provides financial incentives to farmers for their participation and data sharing. It also helps them track the environmental impact of their practices. For example, the first-year carbon reductions are equivalent to powering over 6,600 homes for a year or removing more than 11,000 cars from the road.
"What's cool about it is that farmers are already implementing best-management practices on their cropland, on their farms when they're caring for their animals... and now, through our project, we're able to help quantify what those best-management practices mean for environmental outcomes," said Brey.
The program's first year covered over 100,000 acres of cropland and included more than 71,000 cattle. Set to continue through 2028, organizers are already seeking additional funding to expand its reach and involve more farmers in sustainable agriculture.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-livingimages
Categories: Wisconsin, Energy