Adams proposes legislation to subsidize ‘climate-friendly’ farm conversion

Earlier this year, Rep. Alma Adams (D-D12) introduced the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act (IACA), which would allow for USDA dollars to fund farmers who desire to convert their farms to more “climate-friendly infrastructure.” The legislation is co-sponsored alongside Rep. Jim McGovern, D-MA, and Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ. 

According to experts, “climate-friendly infrastructure” refers to buildings, systems, facilities, and developments that are considered environmentally friendly.

This bill would fund animal feeding operations, climate-smart conservation projects, eligible entities, and large concentrated animal feeding operations, each of these is explained in detail in the bill.

“Farmers want to produce food in ways that are good for people and the planet, but aren’t always empowered to do so in a consolidated food system like ours,” said Adams in a press release.  I’m thrilled to introduce the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act, which unlocks climate-forward conservation dollars to assist producers who want to transition out of the factory farm model.”

The IACA would be the first stand-alone legislation that would assist farmers who want to transition from intensive animal agriculture to pasture-based animal agriculture or specialty crop production. It would also allow the USDA to create a grant program for eligible “climate-smart” conversion projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) spending priority in agriculture conservation. 

“The bill is clearly directed at factory animal farmers trying to redirect their business,” Kelly Lester, a policy analyst at the Center for Food, Power, and Life at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “While I see the logic in trying to help and incentivize farmers who are leaving contracts with major corporate entities, the ability for a farmer to have more freedom in how they choose to farm is not a bad idea at all. However, you can hear the lobbying in the bill as you read it. While it says lagoon waste systems are not allowed to be built with the money, which is pretty fair, the issue is that under the bill’s definition of ‘climate-friendly infrastructure,’ nothing of alternative waste disposal systems is mentioned. And what if a hog farmer uses lagoons already and doesn’t plan to use the money to get rid of them? Would he qualify? While the lagoon system is not what I’d consider optimal, it is still what a large portion of North Carolinian hog farmers use.”

In February, Adams, McGovern, Booker, and other federal lawmakers signed a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack cautioning against using IRA conservation money in industrial agriculture. The IACA would ensure the integrity and effective use of these funds, according to the press release.

“As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, not later than 180 days after the date on which the eligible entity re-receives the grant, the eligible entity shall permanently cease any operation of the medium concentrated animal feeding operation or large concentrated animal feeding operation described in subsection (a)(3)(B) where animals are confined entirely indoors on the land and facilities that are the subject of the grant,” reads the legislation.  

“Financially there is often a lag time from the beginning of what can be an expensive transition to eventually achieving an improved income while the land heals and the livestock become accustomed to a healthier, happier lifestyle,” said Ron Holter of Holterholm Farms. “Transitional funds like those provided in the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act would be a blessing to farmers attempting to move to more regenerative, livestock friendly systems.”

Holterholm transitioned his farm in 1996 and discussed the difficulties of transitioning to regenerative farming, both socially and financially.

“I think the best part of this proposal is that it is voluntary; no farmer is being forced to convert to the government’s idea of environmentally friendly agriculture,” said Lester. “The definitions of what is deemed environmentally sustainable should not take away from farmers’ bottom line or yields. Focus should be placed on the well-researched and successful practice of regenerative farming. By cutting variable input costs and messing with the soil less, regenerative farming can be good for the environment while also improving soil quality and yields in the long run. It can even help farmers get out of contracts with big agriculture adjacent companies, such as Bayer/Monsanto who have market power over pesticides. Like any subsidy, though, I hope these are evenly distributed amongst all sizes of farms. Usually, 90% of farm subsidies go to the top 10% of farms, so with this subsidy, I’d like to see a more even distribution.” 

The post Adams proposes legislation to subsidize ‘climate-friendly’ farm conversion first appeared on Carolina Journal.