Leading the way on climate-smart ag
Ensuring a model for success for farmers, community, and climate
Enacting the Sustainable Farms and Fields (SFF) program was a major victory for Washingtonians from the peninsula to the palouse. However, SFF has yet to be fully funded, which means WA farmers are still not receiving the economic support they need to transition to practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon Washington was instrumental in developing this nation-leading program and passing the legislation to enact it, and now we are working to ensure it is a success for farmers, communities, and climate.
We’re working with our partners at the Washington State Conservation Commission, Audubon Washington, and the Meridian Institute to ensure that the Sustainable Farms & Fields Program receives the capital needed to provide meaningful economic support to farmers and to serve as a model for other states and at the national level.
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Need a quick refresher on Sustainable Farms & Fields? 🚜👩🏽🌾🌾🐝🍎
Check out this webinar we did for ClimateXChange with Mad Agriculture and Hudson Carbon (SFF starts at 19:37).
Watch the video below from Living Heritage Farms!
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Leading the Change: Securing federal funds for WA farmers and setting an example for other states
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has made it clear that agriculture holds enormous potential as a powerful solution to the climate crisis, and we think SFF is the right model. We are working with partners to secure Sec. Vilsack’s support in the form of federal funding for SFF as a national pilot program. Learn more.
Blended Capital: Integrating private philanthropy into a popular public program
We were able to secure a 2021 budget proviso that authorizes the program to receive and administer private philanthropy. That means individuals, businesses, and foundations can contribute to a fund that is awarded to WA farmers in the form of grants to help them implement practices that reduce, capture, and store carbon. This type of blended capital is a game changer, and we are working with state partners toward a goal of seeding the program with $100,000 of private capital in 2021. Stay tuned for more details as we ramp this up!
Get Involved!
✔️ Does your farm, business, or organization believe agriculture is a key part of the solution in the fight against climate change?
✔️ Do you want to see more economic incentives for climate-smart ag in WA?
🖊 Join the effort to direct federal funding to the Sustainable Farms & Fields Program by signing on to our letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack!
