Agriculture
Protection of farms and forests is essential to maintaining a healthy environment as the climate changes. The agricultural community has been figuring out the pathway to climate resilient agriculture that combines emissions reduction and efficiency with regenerative practices to enhance soil health and sequester carbon. In fact, these practices bring many co-benefits, including enhanced water quality, reduced erosion and biodiversity. They also bring the economic benefits of a stronger local farm and food economy, and may include opportunities for additional revenues for farmers who can innovate.
Agriculture, along with forestry has the potential to be net-negative emitters of greenhouse gases. Not only can farmers work to reduce the emissions from their operations, but they can also equip their lands to absorb greenhouse gases emitted from other sectors and trap them in the soil or plants. This puts farmers, foresters and other landowners at the forefront of climate crisis solutions.
Many farms are under economic stress. To be capable of scaling, responses to climate change must rely on strategies that improve their financial performance by increasing efficiency and productivity, focusing on profitable products, additional revenue streams and building resiliency in their fields and facilities.
There are numerous farming practices that contribute to climate progress, and to farm health and prosperity. They fall into these categories:
1. Emissions reduction in farm practices, which include:
Farm energy efficiency to reduce the carbon emissions of buildings and greenhouses, equipment, on-farm transportation and power generation for the farm.
Improving farm system infrastructure (including vehicles, power lines and more) for efficiency and using renewable power wherever possible).
Containing and reducing emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from livestock and dairy operations through improved management of feed and manure.
Managing nitrogen and other nutrients to prevent over-application, which releases the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide; these management practices also reduce costs to the farmer.
Precision agriculture to maximize the efficient use of seeds, nutrients and other inputs.
2. Regenerative cultivation practices that sequester carbon and improve soil health (such as rotational grazing, cover crops, mulching and green manure; double crops and perennial crops; low- and no-till cultivation, and soil amendments such as biochar and rock dust application that increase the long-term storage of carbon).
3. Making the best use of diverse lands by integrating agriculture with other profitable activities on the portions of farms that are least productive for farming. These options include agri-voltaics (combining solar arrays with crops or grazing) and agroforestry (blending forestry with the cultivation of crops that can grow in the shade)
The world of agriculture is complex and difficult. There has been a rapid evolution in the use of technology such as precision agriculture, drones for harvesting, greenhouses (sometimes renewably powered) and more. Farmers are innovators and financial managers by the nature of their jobs, and they figure out day by day which of these practices make financial and technical sense.
Case Study: Ulster Agricultural Summit
Senator Michelle Hinchey Speaking at the Summit
At the Ulster Agriculture Summit on May 13, 2024, farmers gathered to discuss the daily realities and economics of their work. Key points raised included the increasing cost of labor and supplies, the impact of unpredictable weather on crop yields, the challenges of maintaining sustainable farming practices amidst rising expenses, the importance of government support and subsidies, and the need for improved access to local markets to enhance profitability for small and mid-sized farms. These discussions highlighted the complexities of modern farming and the pressures faced by agricultural communities.
Farms, farmers, and the farming practices discussed above are supported by numerous agencies and organizations that are loosely coordinated to provide technical assistance and funding resources. These include:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, which works closely with farmers bringing university-honed expertise to solve problems and set up successful farm practices;
United States Department of Agriculture, which manages comprehensive funding and technical assistance programs that are largely defined by the federal Farm Bill passed every five years, and are coordinated through regional Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Natural Resource Conservation Service, a central USDA program, which helps farmers to adopt environmentally sound farming practices and protect natural resources on their farms;
Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC), which was formed to help farms prevent runoff that could threaten the New York City water supply, and has developed a spectrum of farm and forest assistance programs
American Farmland Trust, whose programs support farmland preservation, farm viability and soil health.
Scenic Hudson, the largest land conservation organization in the region, which has long been involved in farmland preservation and has worked to define and demonstrate climate-resilient agriculture practices and methods of measuring their impacts.
In 2019, Scenic Hudson conducted an in-depth investigation of the opportunities for regenerative agriculture and the perceptions among farmers of barriers and opportunities. This analysis framed a Climate Resilient Agriculture strategy that is still applicable, noting that conservation practices that benefit soil are proven effective but have been slow to mainstream. Based on interviews with over 200 stakeholders, the report states that:
Agricultural stakeholders in the valley were enthusiastic about the potential to add GHG mitigation and climate resilience to existing conservation program goals. Offered suitable technical and financial assistance, many farmers in the region would likely be willing to adopt conservation practices that promote a transition to climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.
In personal interviews and listening sessions, farmers and other agricultural stakeholders shared many frustrations with existing conservation incentive programs, including complex and inflexible program requirements, limited technical and financial resources, and program criteria that favor production systems most likely to contribute to natural resource quality impairment.
Land conservation organizations have the knowledge, skills and experience to develop effective partnerships with agricultural stakeholders designed to strengthen public conservation incentive programs and create complementary private incentives that amplify the GHG mitigation and climate resilience bene- fits of public investments in agricultural conservation, sustainable community development and regional resilience planning.
The study also notes that most federal agricultural funding supports are oriented toward “resistance’ conservation strategies (i.e. avoiding harmful actions) rather than “transformation” strategies to increase resilience through active practices. This study has served as the basis for a series of on-farm demonstration projects and policy advocacy to improve the incentives available for regenerative practices. While the pandemic made agriculture even more vulnerable, it also called forth adaptiveness and innovation in the sector, a source of hope for the faster uptake of regenerative practices.
Statewide, too, New York has laid groundwork for climate resilient and regenerative agriculture through supportive policies, building on a 20-year research program at Cornell University testing thousands of soil samples per year and establishing metrics for soil health. Public policy was first established in the 2016-2017 state fiscal year with the creation of New York’s Climate Resilient Farming Program to provide financial incentives specifically for these practices. Shortly thereafter, Assemblymember Didi Barrett introduced the Hudson Valley Carbon Farming Pilot and supported funding for research to document carbon sequestration in soil so that the impacts of regenerative farming practices could actually be measured and compensated with workable incentive systems. In 2019, a statewide Soil Health Summit gave rise to a 40-page Soil Health Road Map identifying four key farming practices:
Use of winter cover crops
Crop rotation
Low- or no-till approaches
Soil enhancements such as compost and biochar.
In 2021, the Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act was signed into law by Governor Hochul. The law defines “soil health” as “soils that have the continuing capacity to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans”. This law establishes a Soil Health Initiative, and better codifies the Climate Resilient Farming Initiative which provides cost share to farmers taking initiatives to store carbon in the soil and improve climate resiliency on their farms. It also launched a Research Initiative through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
One reason for the need for continuing research is the diversity of soil types and farming conditions. Reasonably, farmers need to see a new practice demonstrated under conditions similar to theirs. As of the 2022 Agricultural Census, 15% of Hudson Valley farms were using these practices – enough to provide examples for many more. In addition, demonstration sites that showcase regenerative farming practices can be found throughout the Valley, and many conduct educational programs.
Case Study: Regenerative Agriculture: Building Infrastructure for the Field
Pink Hill Project, North Carolina
Farming is economically challenging, but the rise of regenerative agriculture and climate finance has increased the flow of investment capital dedicated to supporting these sustainable practices. The Croatan Institute’s report, ”Investing in Regenerative Agriculture Infrastructure Across Value Chains,” highlights their work in building the necessary financial infrastructure to support regenerative agriculture. The institute focuses on identifying and developing financing mechanisms that can scale regenerative practices across entire value chains. Their initiatives include engaging investors and philanthropists to dedicate capital to regenerative projects, mapping out opportunities for investment in infrastructure, and advocating for policies that drive the transition to regenerative systems. By convening stakeholders from various sectors—such as finance, agriculture, and policy—the Croatan Institute is working to strengthen the economic viability of regenerative agriculture while fostering collaboration between farmers, investors, and communities.
The Hudson River Valley has been at the epicenter of the movement to preserve and diversify farms and local food systems and expand the use of regenerative farming practices. This region may be in a position to lead the Northeast in scaling up climate smart agriculture and regenerative practices. The region’s role as a food supplier for New York City and the surrounding region, and the proven innovation of many of our farm entrepreneurs, provide plentiful examples of best practices, and the strong community among climate-focused farmers can reach out more widely to share resources and lessons.
In the Northeast, livestock and dairy are the sectors of agriculture with the greatest climate impacts. Many large livestock operations have closed and dairy farming has declined in the Hudson Valley. However, small-scale livestock production is up in many parts of the region as farms diversify. And several dairy farms continue to provide a local source of milk, cheese, yogurt and other products. But several livestock farms are exploring ways to stabilize their operations and become more profitable by sequestering carbon. In the Hudson Valley Carbon Farming Pilot Study, at least three of the participating farmers are combining innovative livestock management techniques to enhance soil health.
Research is also being conducted by Cornell University, Columbia University, Scenic Hudson and other partners in the Northeast that can augment the work of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Cornell Cooperative Extension and others. Further on-farm research and demonstration projects like these are worthy of support. These projects can help to demonstrate effective farmer adoption of conservation practices used in climate-resilient agriculture systems on farms that represent the diversity of Hudson Valley agriculture. They can also document the return on investment of conservation practices, and can help to identify effective tools and strategies for monitoring the costs and benefits of transitioning existing Hudson Valley production systems to climate-resilient systems.
In particular, Scenic Hudson has had recent success with its Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration Areas, which facilitate funding to farmers committed to regenerative agriculture, and help to implement conservation easements, natural resource protections, and/or soil health enhancements. To gain the most insight from these demonstration projects, metrics need to be established against which to measure success. Metrics not only demonstrate on-the-ground impacts and successes, but also give insight into the ways that future voluntary carbon markets should be designed. This research lays groundwork by testing the measurement processes themselves.
Investing in Local Food Systems
Healthy, diversified local food systems are a key leverage point for keeping farms economically viable. Healthy thriving local food systems benefit climate and people directly through:
Reduced food miles
Easier, equitable access to healthy food
Improved ability to withstand supply interruptions through local knowledge and planning.
Revitalizing local food systems is already a well established, popular idea and vigorous movement in the Hudson Valley. Recent research shows that the largest carbon footprint of the food system as a whole is not direct production, but shipping and waste handling. This can be addressed through strengthening the local and regional food marketplace and creating systems for turning food waste into soil resources such as compost.
In spite of our vibrant local food economy, food insecurity is widespread. The region is by no means self-sufficient in terms of food, farm and forest products. Climate change may be a driver to investigate innovative approaches to scaling up food production and distribution infrastructure to benefit Hudson Valley residents and New York City. For example, environmentally advanced greenhouse production should be explored as a source of greater food security, reduced food-miles and job creation.
The Hudson Valley Food System Coalition, with over 100 member organizations, was created in 2019 to address this need. While demonstrating the benefits of creating local food system plans with the City of Kingston, the Coalition is also calling attention to the need for whole-system improvements such as food storage and distribution infrastructure to keep food fresh longer; better connections between surplus food supplies and people in need; and greatly expanded food waste composting. The HV Food Systems Coalition also supports urban forestry approaches that create food forests for public consumption (as Seattle has done and Newburgh is beginning to do).
Food and Farm System Infrastructure
Food and agricultural systems need infrastructure, and that infrastructure must be maintained and upgraded for efficiency and reliability. This includes on-farm equipment that is resilient to climate change and reduces greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., electric vehicles) and off-farm infrastructure. Serious commitment to maintaining a high-functioning, resilient regional food system includes 1) roads and vehicles (electrified as much as possible) to transport foods to consumer and processing facilities, 2) sustainable refrigeration to transport products safely and meet food safety guidelines, 3) sustainable packaging options and facilities to supply package, 4) a resilient energy grid to ensure off-farm logistics of the food and agricultural system function at all times, 5) water systems that ensures farm that need irrigation or water for livestock have access to clean water supplies, 6) waste treatment facilities to ensure food and agricultural waste is treated or repurposed as a beneficial use (e.g., anaerobic digestion of food waste), and 7) meat processing plants (in short supply in the Hudson Valley) that ensure animal health and welfare, and 8) a local, skilled, and diverse workforce to support a regional food system in the Hudson Valley. Support for policies and programs that ensure 2050 food and agricultural systems infrastructure is in place to support a strong regional food system in the Hudson Valley that is resilient to extreme weather events and can support a vibrant sustainable future.
Recommendations
The agencies and organizations supporting Hudson Valley farming should concertedly plan to scale up their outreach on regenerative practices, building on the foundation of demonstration projects with the full spectrum of soil types and farm products of interest in the Valley. Simplified and more flexible programs are key. Diversified resources are needed to cover the range of climate-forward agricultural options for all farmers, and to be sure of reaching small and underserved and BIPOC farmers.
A useful strategy, worthy of scaling, is to advocate for federal and state funding awards to require whole farm planning and specific regenerative practices, as the Climate Resilient Agriculture program does. Private funding sources should also be better popularized,and should be structured to incentivize leveraging of available resources. NGO and local government collaboration can help with education and proactive planning, especially in fast-emerging areas of opportunity such as agrivoltaics. Land conservation organizations are also well positioned to lead new public-private collaborations that capture the powerful climate change solutions in agriculture.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy production on farms could be accelerated with a more ambitious outreach program, potentially led by a commercial lender involved with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction program funded by the EPA, and potentially involving the NYSERDA-funded Clean Energy Hubs as an outreach structure.
As the agrivoltaics demonstration work at Cornell’s Agri-Tech Research Center comes to fruition, Cornell and local collaborators should continue to engage farmers and rural community leaders and advocate for expanded financial supports to scale up agri-voltaics wherever appropriate. The use of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction funding and other IRA programs for this purpose should be explored.
Farm and forest support organizations, and those involved in strengthening the food system, should coordinate to identify possibilities for program synergies including the promotion of agroforestry. Capturing the opportunity to transform organic waste from both farms and forests into soil amendments such as biochar, and creating expanded voluntary carbon markets, could be a game-changing initiative for rural economies. This could support an increasingly sustainable bioeconomy, integrating farm and forest products and highlighting the carbon sequestration potential of both. As these benefits are better quantified, there may well be opportunities to create new, rigorous, voluntary carbon markets in partnership with food or forest product companies, to benefit farm and forest economies.
Conclusion
Through these many practices and strategies, agriculture has a major role to play in providing carbon sinks, enhancing local food security, and participating as an informed stakeholder in local renewable energy siting through approaches that protect farmland while meeting communities’ energy needs. Support for farms needs to be expanded and continuously fine-tuned to address their financial and environmental success.
