2022 September Stewardship Advocate
The USDA recently announced $2.8 billion in funding for 70 Climate Smart Agriculture proposals. See the full list of projects funded here. There will be additional announcements for another round of funding in the near future. Iowa Corn wrote letters of support for the following three proposals that received funding and will continue to work with these organizations in the implementation of the projects.
Farmers for Soil Health Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership
This project proposes to accelerate long-term cover crop adoption by creating a platform to incentivize farmers. The platform will quantify, verify, and facilitate the sale of ecosystem benefits, creating a marketplace to generate demand for climate-smart commodities.
Lead Partner: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Other Major Partners: Farmers for Soil Health (National Corn Growers Association, United Soybean Board, and National Pork Board), National Center for Appropriate Technology, National Association of Conservation Districts, Soil Health Institute, University of Missouri, Sustainability Consortium, Data Transmission Network, The Walton Family Foundation Primary States Expected: IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MI, MO, NE, OH, SD, TN, ND, NC, MD, DE, NY, WI, PA, VA Major Commodities: Corn, Soybeans
Approximate Funding Ceiling: $95,000,000
National Pork Board’s Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Proposal
The goal of this project is to increase the sustainability of U.S. pork products by advancing climate-smart agriculture practices within the feed supply, thereby maintaining market demand and price premiums in a rapidly evolving consumer world. The geography of focus – Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri – encapsulates a concentration of pork facilities supported by local grain production, representing a key region of the overall supply chain.
Lead Partner: National Pork Board Other Major Partners: Nestle, Sustainable Environmental Consultants, Ducks Unlimited, Trust in Food (Farm Journal), Farm Credit Council, Millborn Seed Primary States Expected: IA, MN, MO Major Commodities: Pork, Rice, Soybeans, Corn
Approximate Funding Ceiling: $20,000,000
Horizon II: A Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas
Production This project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities, while creating opportunities for small and underserved producers and benefitting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife.
Lead Partner: Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC Other Major Partners: Biostar Renewables, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa State University, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Sievers Family Farms, Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, Smithfield Foods, The Nature Conservancy, University of Missouri, Verdesian, Veterans in Agriculture” Primary States Expected: IA, MO Major Commodities: Corn, Soybeans, Pork, Beef, Grass
Approximate Funding Ceiling: $80,000,000
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September 28 – Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Developing Reliable Perennial Groundcover Systems – Webinar
September 28 – National Ag Law Center Webinar: Considering Carbon: A Farmer’s Guide to Carbon Contracts – Webinar
September 28-29 – Iowa Water Conference – Dubuque
October 5, 12, 19, 26 – Iowa Learning Farms Webinars – Webinar
October 8 – Creating a Diverse Slivopasture Farm on Former Row Crop Ground – Clemons
October 12 – INRC Water Monitoring and Remote Sensing Webinar – Ames & Webinar
October 19 – Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District – Winterset
October 20 – Virtual Field Day Exploring a Pumped Bioreactor System for Improved Water Quality – Webinar
October 25 – Monarch Joint Venture: What We Talk About When We Talk About Monarchs – Webinar
FARMER TO FARMER VIDEO
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined Iowa Corn at the Farm Progress Show during our Pay Dirt seminars, sharing the important role that every Iowan plays in improving water quality.