USDA Dishes Out More Details on Possible Climate-Smart Farming Practices in New Report

USDA's is giving more insight into climate initiatives and how ag could play a part. The agency issued a 90-day progress report on what it calls climate-smart agriculture and forestry.

The strategy includes broad ideas, but does not provide specific goals as of yet. The report does not mention establishing a carbon bank, either. However, it does note there are voluntary markets for carbon where agriculture and forestry can provide "carbon offsets or credits".

There is no mention of using the department's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) spending authority to make payments to farmers. It outlines some of the agency's plans to work along with President Biden's executive order on tackling climate issues at home and abroad with seven main areas of focus.

"Data and metrics, how we make sure these strategies work for all farms and all farmers, how we integrate these things into our programs, how we enhance and encourage improved technical assistance and deal with some of the gaps we have there, how we leverage private interest and maximize the benefits of these emerging markets, how we improve forest health and then how we revitalize and energize our research program," says Bill Hohenstein, director of Office of Energy and Environmental Policy. 

USDA acknowledged that many farmers and ranchers may have already adopted climate-smart practices on their own. It also says the agency should provide options to ensure early adopters are not put at a disadvantage.