Testimony from the American Farmland Trust (AFT) emphasized the need for regenerative agriculture:
“Our nation’s farmers and ranchers can help us address climate change. Regenerative practices like cover crops sequester carbon in the soil while improving water quality, soil health, and a farmer’s bottom line. These same practices will also make fields more resilient to climate change impacts such as flooding.”
The AFT called for a National Cover Crop Initiative which would include Environmental Quality Insurance (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship (CSP) programs.
They also asked for the establishment of a Commission on Farmland Transitions, more protections for farmland (including a “one-time investment of $1.5 billion in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) as part of a relief and recovery proposal to Congress”), and expansion of the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Contract concept to offer relief on loans in exchange for permanent or long-term farmland protection.”
Find the American Farmland Trust’s transition recommendations here.