Land Core Newsletter - May 2024
Image Credit: Dan Meyers, Unsplash
Dear friends and colleagues,
We hope you had a fun and restful Memorial Day Weekend!
It has been another busy month here! Let’s start with an overview of some significant political activity. Following the release of a detailed Farm Bill proposal by the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this month, the House Farm Bill was introduced on the 17th and went through markup on the 23rd, including some progress on our SOIL HEALTH Practices bill, which is now officially on the record for consideration in the final farm bill!
Below you will find our overview of the House bill, highlights of the movement on soil-health related priorities that were included in the text, and areas where we hope to see additional advances.
Also, in case you missed it last month, we were excited to share the pre-print of the Risk Model team’s first academic manuscript! And with summer kicking off, there are several upcoming events related to regenerative agriculture and soil health on our radar.
Warmly,
The Land Core Team
Policy Updates
Farm Bill Updates
Since our last newsletter, the House Agriculture Committee released their full Farm Bill text, titled the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.” More information can be found in the detailed title-by-title summary.
The committee also held a markup on May 23, which lasted over 13 hours. While the bill received much criticism from Democratic committee members, at the end of the day four of the 24 Democrat members voted in support of the GOP-led Farm Bill. However, the fate of this bill will likely not be known until at least September, when House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson hopes it will get floor time. Many organizations, including the American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Nature Conservancy are urging Rep. Thompson “to find common ground and finalize a bipartisan farm bill by the end of the year.”
While the House Farm Bill has seen approval from some groups and farm organizations, a number of other groups across the political spectrum have opposed or refrained from endorsing the bill, likely waiting to see if their priorities will be better reflected in the final Senate version, such as issues around the high price tag of the bill, climate provisions, and nutrition benefits.
While on the Senate side, Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Sen. Debbie Stabenow has not released any additional information or scheduled a markup for their version of the bill. Additionally, we are anticipating a Senate Minority Farm Bill proposal from Sen. John Boozman in early June.
Soil Health Farm Bill priorities included in the House bill:
Below are a selection of soil health-related policies and programs that have been included (at least to some degree) in the House Farm Bill that we, alongside countless partners, have worked to champion and are continuing to advocate for, including:
Title II- Conservation
Reallocates all unobligated Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation program dollars into the Farm Bill Conservation Title (note: the House bill removes the IRA’s climate guardrails)
Streamline the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program and improves farmer access to conservation technical assistance (H.R. 3036)
Requires USDA to create a process for public participation in updating conservation practice standards and make more frequent updates, beginning with one year after enactment and every subsequent 5 years (H.R. 6877)
Title VII - Research, Extension, and Related Matters
Increases the mandatory funding level for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to $175 million per year (H.R. 5199)
Title X - Horticulture, Marketing, and Regulatory Reform
Provides additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and directs program administrators to consult with specialty crop producers when setting priorities for the program (H.R. 4838)
Continues support for organic production through the National Organic Program, Organic Production and Market Data Initiative, and National Organic Certification Cost-Share program
While we applaud the inclusion or reauthorization of programs which support farmers in building soil health, we are also closely watching how these programs are paid for (to ensure that these don’t come at the expense of other policies that would more broadly benefit soil health, including core conservation programs). We are also continuing to educate lawmakers and stakeholders on the importance of ensuring that conservation funds prioritize soil health and achieve conservation outcomes. For example, read our 2023 memo on conservation and precision agriculture.
While the bill faces some major political challenges, we recognize that the bill’s passage out of Committee creates significant momentum for us to build on, and we urge our community to continue to push for broad support for soil health in a bipartisan farm bill passed as soon as possible (this year).
Ag-Appropriations
The House Ag-FDA spending bill is expected to be released in early June in advance of a subcommittee mark-up the week of June 10. The Senate timeline has not been announced.
ICYMI: You can check out our mini-blog part two for an overview of the appropriations process, a recap of FY24 funding, and Land Core’s requests, including report language and program funding, for FY25!
Bill Tracker
We are currently adding a new checkbox which will allow you to search for soil health “marker bills” that have been included in the House version (and eventually, the Senate version) of the Farm Bill. In the meantime, you can find new bills introduced in April and May in our Tracker, including the Future Farmers and Ranchers of Tomorrow Act, CRP Modernization Act, Future of Water Act, and the Quality Loss Adjustment Improvement for Farmers Act.
You can view all soil health bills on our Tracker, and sign up to get Bill Tracker updates directly to your inbox here.
Risk Model News
ICYMI - Risk Model Manuscript Pre-Print Now Available!
In case you missed it, last month our team submitted their first academic manuscript, titled “Diversified crop rotations mitigate agricultural losses from dry weather,” for peer review. The manuscript is currently available to view as a pre-print on our website.
Congratulations to Risk Model team member Gina Pizzo, PhD Candidate in Statistics at Michigan State University, for receiving 2nd place for her oral presentation titled “Farm revenue uncertainty: a Bayesian study for corn in the US Midwest” at the Applied Statistics in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference in Iowa earlier this month!
Upcoming Events & Funding Opportunities
Below you will find a selection of upcoming gatherings related to agriculture and soil health on our radar, as well as upcoming enrollments and deadlines for funding opportunities.
June 3-5, 2024 - North and South Dakota Bankers Association Annual Convention - Fargo, ND
This annual convention, hosted jointly by the NDBA and SDBA, will cover topics such as policy, the economy, and AI, and also have an exhibit hall with over 30 exhibitors. More information and registration details can be found here.
June 8, 2024 - Women & Soil - Dyersville, IA
This is an in-person or virtual field day event for women in soil science to learn about soil health and conservation. More information and a link to register can be found here.
June 10-12, 2024 - Soil Science Society of America Summer Conference - San Juan, PR
The SSSA summer conference brings together scientists and people working in the soil science field for a chance to learn about new research, attend technical workshops, and network with peers. More information can be found here.
June 13, 2024 - Conservation On Tap - Des Moines, IA
Join farmers, landowners, and others at Confluence Brewing Company at 6pm CT to learn from and chat with peers about conservation topics. More information can be found here.
June 24-27, 2024 - North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference - Platteville, WI
This soil-focused conference will discuss visions for resilient soil climate ecosystems and will be hosted by state soil scientists and University of Wisconsin-Platteville professors. Learn more here.
June 25, 2024 - Live FAQ Session Hosted by AFRI - Virtual
USDA AFRI will be hosting a live FAQ session at 6pm ET to discuss rapid response to extreme weather events across food and agriculture systems. Registration information can be found here.
Funding Opportunity - Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) provides grants for projects that are focused on improving food and agricultural systems. They seek “creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects that are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America.”
The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 6. More information on the program and how to apply can be found here.
What We're Reading
Guest Column: Understanding the farm bill and its impact
An op-ed discussing key issues that frame the difference between the Senate and the House versions of the bill.
May 24, 2024 | By: Klaus Mager, The Bulletin
Watch: Corn: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
John Oliver discusses the financial and environmental impact of corn in the U.S.
May 22, 2024 | By: John Oliver, HBO
Farmers leading the charge for soil health and sustainability
Op-ed discussing the strides Illinois farmers have made in promoting and implementing soil health and sustainability in their fields.
May 21, 2024 | By: Ron Kindred, The News Gazette
Meet the Midwestern Farmer Restoring the Land by Growing Native Plants
A look at Mark Shepard, founder and operator of New Forest Farm, a perennial agricultural ecosystem, head of Restoration Agriculture Development, a land restoration consulting enterprise, and author of two books.
May 17, 2024 | By: Darcy Duda, Modern Farmer
Climate change and land degradation are making it tough for farmers to provide some of our favorite indulgences. With these problems now starting to impact corn, rice and wheat—the three global staple crops—we face the prospect of cascading price hikes, market disruptions, deepening hunger and food insecurity, economic contractions and the political instability accompanying all of it.
May 13, 2024 | By: Dr. Sara Scherr, EcoAgriculture Partners, and Dr. Kirsten Dunlop, EIT Climate-KIC
USDA picks groups to help with Climate Corps
Some 28 organizations, government agencies and universities have been chosen to host members of USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps. The host groups will work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help farmers and ranchers adopt climate-smart practices.
May 8, 2024 | By: Philip Brasher, AgriPulse
Crop insurance has evolved with changing needs
This year marks the 30th anniversary of what is referred to as the foundation of the modern crop insurance program - this article discusses potential reforms to the program.
May 7, 2024 | By: Tom C. Doran, AgriNews
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