Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture
Funding Available for Minnesota Producers
Producers in eight Minnesota counties are eligible to receive $100 per acre or animal unit for integrating climate-smart agricultural practices into their farming operations. Climate-smart practices are those that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase soil health and improve water quality.
Participating counties include (East) Otter Tail, Fillmore, Houston, Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Stevens and Wadena. SWCDs in these counties are receiving grant funding from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to assist local landowners with navigating the process of adapting their operations for climate-smart practices.
About the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture
Funding is available through the Alliance to Advance Climate Smart Agriculture, a national USDA-funded pilot program led by Virginia Tech University (formerly known as the RIPE100 program) to support the adoption of climate-smart practices. During the three-year pilot program, a total of $80 million will be available to partners in Minnesota, Virginia, Arkansas and North Dakota for program administration and direct financial incentives for producers. BWSR is facilitating the pilot program for Minnesota.
By proving the value of climate-smart practices, this pilot program has the potential to serve as a national model. Awarded districts will have an opportunity to lead the state and the nation in implementing this one-of-a-kind pilot to compensate producers based on the multiple benefits of their stewardship practices.
Equity focus
Underserved producers may be eligible for additional equity payments. This category includes socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers, women producers, veteran producers, small producers and producers of specialty crops.
Conservation Practices
Eligible practices include:
- Cover Crops
- Residue and tillage management (no-till, reduced till)
- Nutrient management
- Conservation crop rotation
- Silvopasture
- Riparian forest buffer
- Riparian herbaceous cover
- Pasture and hay planting
- Tree and shrub establishment
- Prescribed grazing
State and National Partners
BWSR is working closely with the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) and other partners, including the Minnesota Farmers Union, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Renewing the Countryside, the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. National partners include the National Black Growers Council, the Sustainable Food Lab, and the National Association of Conservation Districts.
