Bacon plans bill to help farmers, foresters earn income from climate-smart agriculture

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) soon plans to introduce a bipartisan bill that would support America’s farmers and foresters who want to earn income through carbon markets.

“Many of our nation’s farmers and foresters do not know how to implement projects or navigate the current carbon credit marketplace,” said Rep. Bacon. “As a strong supporter of our agriculture and environmental industries, I am pleased to lead this bill in the House and help reduce barriers for our agriculture sector.”

Rep. Bacon and U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) said on June 24 they will propose the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which could help set criteria and certification programs that would ease the process for the nation’s farmers and forestry owners to earn income from carbon credits.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers take great pride in being good environmental stewards and this bill can help them monetize that,” Rep. Bacon said.

Their measure will be the companion bill to the same-named S. 3894, introduced on June 4 by U.S. Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to help farmers, ranchers and foresters participate in the voluntary carbon market by establishing a Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification Program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bacon’s office.

Through the program, USDA would administer a new website that would serve as a one-stop shop of information and resources for producers and foresters seeking to participate in the carbon marketplace, according to the summary.

“Today, many third party groups are developing protocols and testing methods to calculate emissions reduction and sequestration in agriculture and forestry. The landscape is evolving rapidly,” according to the summary. “The Growing Climate Solutions Act recognizes this fact and provides the [USDA] Secretary with a robust advisory council composed of agriculture experts, scientists, producers, and others” to advise the secretary and ensure that the certification program remains relevant, credible and responsive to the needs of farmers, forest landowners and carbon market participants.