Sustainable Farms and Fields: Agriculture Delivering Solutions to Climate Change
Washington State is world renowned for its thriving agriculture industry. Agriculture contributes significantly to the state's economy, employing approximately 164,000 individuals and valued at $49 billion. It represents 13% of Washington’s economic activity, but agriculture is also a significant source of carbon pollution. Globally, agriculture is responsible for approximately 10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In 2019 Carbon Washington set out to address agricultural carbon pollution in our state by pushing for the creation of a grant program called "Sustainable Farms and Fields." Using our signature collaborative approach, we partnered with Audubon Washington, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Dairy Federation, and other organizations to advocate for legislation to encourage and incentivize the reduction of GHG emissions in Washington agriculture through this new program.
A bipartisan coalition secured passage of a bill in 2020 to establish the Sustainable Farms and Fields program with start-up funding of $99,000. In FY 2023 -, nearly $2M was invested through the program in 50 local carbon-reduction projects. Grants were given to an additional 23 carbon-reduction projects in the 2024 fiscal year.
Sustainable Farms and Fields is managed by the Washington State Conservation Commission and is part of the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI), a partnership of the Washington State Conservation Commission, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University.
The state's 2023-2025 biennial budget includes an additional $30 million in funding for Sustainable Farms and Fields, primarily for grants to facilitate the purchase of expensive anaerobic digesters and to support alternative livestock management practices.
The Potential for Innovation in Agriculture
The Sustainable Farms and Fields Program reflects a vision of agriculture not as a culprit but as a catalyst for critically needed change. Innovation is the linchpin, not only for curbing agriculture's climate impact but for transforming it into a carbon-capturing force.
The Sustainable Farms and Fields program is encouraging groundbreaking strategies that challenge traditional norms. These include the adoption of unconventional techniques such as no-till farming, biochar utilization, and the implementation of specific manure separator projects aimed at curbing methane emissions.
Caption: The no-till drill is crucial in sustainable farming, preserving soil health, reducing erosion, and promoting resource efficiency by minimizing soil disturbance and enhancing carbon sequestration. Source: Washington State Conservation Commission.
These revolutionary farming techniques aren't only about carbon sequestration: they are answering a clarion call for a much needed overhaul in agriculture, promising to boost productivity and slash costs while reducing GHG emissions.
Sustainable Farms and Fields helps Washington state contribute to a larger goal of removing 50 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere through changes in agricultural practices. This goal isn't just a dream. It is an achievable and necessary leap we must make to achieve a sustainable future.
Stay tuned for updates on the program’s funding and impacts. We look forward to opportunities to support expanded funding in the next biennial budget.
Together, we can help shape a brighter tomorrow for the State's farming communities and the environment.
