The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act, co-authored by Sen. Roger Marshall of KS; Dr. Marshall says it breaks down barriers for farmers interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices.
“Everyone in agriculture understands we have been and will continue to be the solution, not the problem when it comes to ensuring a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment,” said Senator Marshall. “The bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act is completely voluntary and gives farmers the majority seat at the table – after all, they are the original environmentalist. I’m pleased to see this big win for Kansas farmers pass the Senate, and want to thank Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, and Senator Braun for their work on this and for working with us to improve this legislation.”
Senator Marshall expanded on this issue in his op-ed for the Washington Times, "Agriculture Should Be in the Driver’s Seat on Carbon Policy", saying in part, “Farmers and ranchers are the original conservationist and generational farming is on the forefront of every producer’s mind. For nearly every year over the past 50 years, farmers have steadily produced more food and fiber on fewer acres with less water and less nutrient inputs… Agriculture is one of, if not, the only industry that can naturally sequester carbon. And we convert it into high quality food and protein. I see too many companies and regulators trying a top-down approach. They want to make carbon markets that work for businesses at the end of the value chain rather than asking producers what is best for the land they touch every day… We have limited resources to feed, clothe, fuel, and house people. Anything that is proposed must, first and foremost, continue to encourage the efficient and abundant production of such. We must also ensure we can adequately and honestly measure all the good work farmers are currently doing…”
Sen. Marshall says the Growing Climate Solutions Act creates a certification program at USDA to help solve technical entry barriers that prevent farmer and forest landowner participation in carbon credit markets. The Senator says many third-party groups are developing protocols and testing methods to calculate emissions reduction and sequestration in agriculture and forestry.
The bill instructs USDA to produce a report to Congress to advise about the further development of this policy area including: barriers to market entry, challenges raised by farmers and forest landowners, market performance, and suggestions on where USDA can make a positive contribution to the further adoption of voluntary carbon sequestration practices in agriculture and forestry. It also has a sunset of 2026 to allow congress to address any shortfalls.