SfL Commends BBBA’s Acknowledgement of Ag Leadership in Environmental Stewardship

(Solutions from the Land) Solutions from the Land applauds the inclusion of much needed agricultural climate action investments in the $1.75-trillion Build Back Better Act (BBBA) spending and tax framework introduced Thursday that would increase investments in climate smart agriculture (CSA) and boost biofuels. It is anticipated that the CSA provisions could reach some 130 million cropland acres per year, representing as many as 240,000 farms. The measure also calls for nearly $1 billion for biofuels infrastructure, a four-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit and a new tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel. These spending proposals acknowledge that farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners have long demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship with strategies that provide benefits for their operations, the environment, and the public. SfL encourages bipartisan support of these measures. READ MORE

Excerpt from DTN Progressive Farmer: "Congress is poised to make a once-in-a-generation investment in effective working lands conservation programs -- CSP, EQIP, RCPP, and others -- that will put farmers at the center of our national response to the climate change crisis," said Eric Deeble, NSAC's policy director. "The Build Back Act, BBB, also contains support that is immediately available for farmer-focused climate research programs, like SARE, that will help us understand what practices and tools farmers and ranchers can use to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

From 2022 through 2026, USDA will offer a program to provide farmers with $25 an acre to grow one or more cover crops on up to 1,000 acres per farmer. Landowners who lease ground to farmers also would be eligible to receive payments of $5 an acre.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) would see a $9 billion boost in program funds through 2026. USDA would have two years to begin expanding the program before the funding starts to balloon in 2024 at $1.75 billion in extra funds, along with $3 billion in 2025 and $3.45 billion in 2026. The increased funds in EQIP would be used for practices that increase soil carbon or reduce nitrogen losses or find other ways to lower greenhouse gases.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) would see a $7.45 billion increase in funds, also backloaded with larger funding increases in 2025 and 2026.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) would see a $4.1 billion increase that would increase from 2022 to 2026 as well. Once again, the funding would be attached to practices that improve soil carbon or reduce agricultural emissions. CSP increases could also apply to practices on rangelands, or forest land, or organic and perennial production systems.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program also would see a $1.7 billion increase in spending.

Technical assistance at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will get an infusion of funds as well with $850 million through 2031 to help farmers, ranchers and landowners implement climate-smart practices on their operations.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack touted the investments in conservation to reduce emissions, as well as help the U.S. Forest Service receive long-overdue funding to manage fire risks and aggressively manage forests. The secretary and the White House highlighted a "transformative investment" through the Rural Partnership Program, which will provide $873 million to USDA to provide rural development grants for states and tribes.

"Rural America will benefit from meaningful investments to help pave the way in clean and renewable energy infrastructure and production and energy efficiency improvements that will foster new job and market opportunities," Vilsack said.

The bill includes $960 million for biofuel infrastructure grants, which can go for various operations, including distribution facilities or fueling stations. The bill also includes a four-year extension of the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit.

In another area to potentially expand the biofuels industry, the bill includes provisions to develop "sustainable aviation fuels," which translates into increased biofuels going into the aviation industry. The bill includes several funding programs for sustainable aviation fuels, including a new tax credit, as well as research into those fuels. The fuel must meet a pathway to reduce emissions 50% compared to current aviation fuels.

"Not only does the Build Back Better Act represent the largest investment in clean energy and combating climate change ever -- it also confirms that my colleagues have listened to my central argument in our clean energy discussions: biofuels can and should be a part of our fight against climate change," said Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa.