Tag: dairy environment

Growing Climate Solutions Act Clears Senate With NMPF Support

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF applauded the Senate passage of legislation that aims to bolster the conservation and environmental efforts dairy producers are leading as they continue their everyday stewardship of air, land, and water resources.

The bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act, led by Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), passed with overwhelming bipartisan support on June 24 by a vote of 92-8.

If passed, this legislation would create a USDA certification program that would permit the department to informally endorse technical service providers that can help farmers implement environmental stewardship practices that may generate carbon credits. The legislation would be invaluable for dairy farmers seeking to achieve the sector’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality or better by 2050 through dairy’s Net Zero Initiative.

“NMPF commends the United States Senate for passing the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act by an overwhelming margin,” NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern said in a statement. “This important legislation will enable USDA to informally endorse technical service providers that help farmers implement stewardship practices that can generate carbon and other environmental credits.”

NMPF-Led Environmental Stewardship Proposal Moves Forward in Congress

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act, which advances key environmental policy priorities for dairy farmers, has made strides in both houses of Congress in the past few weeks, with introduction in the House of Representatives and advancement in a Senate committee.

Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Tom Reed (R-NY), both of whom serve on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, introduced on June 16 the House version of the bill, which would create a 30 percent Investment Tax Credit for nutrient recovery technologies and biogas systems. Much of the measure initially advanced in the House last summer as part of a larger package called the Moving Forward Act. This legislation will help fulfill the goals of the dairy sector’s Net Zero Initiative by spurring greater on-farm energy production and enhancing environmental mitigation.

The House introduction followed Senate action that moves the bill even further in that chamber. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) successfully secured the inclusion of the legislation as part of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s Clean Energy for America Act. The Senate Finance Committee successfully advanced the bill on May 26, positioning it for inclusion in a broader legislative package.

NMPF has long sought passage of this measure in partnership with the American Biogas Council to reduce dairy’s environmental footprint and help address nationwide water-quality challenges.

“The bipartisan Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act recognizes the value that biogas systems can have for dairy producers of all sizes as they continuously improve their sustainability nationwide,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF in a statement. “This new investment tax credit also incorporates nutrient recovery technologies, which can transform manure into fertilizer for crops and bedding for cows. These technologies are important, but expensive. This bill will help farmers incorporate these new technologies into their operations, for the benefit of everyone.”

FARM, NMPF Recognize Dairy Leadership on Earth Day

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The FARM Program and NMPF collaborated across the dairy community to recognize Earth Day on April 22, using it as an opportunity to highlight their efforts and goals across the sector in conversations about climate, the environment and sustainability throughout the month. In a  joint communications toolkit for members, messaging and social media was provided to amplify the spotlight on:

  • The FARM Environmental Stewardship program area
  • How farmers are prioritizing on-farm sustainability
  • Recent House and Senate Agriculture Committee testimony about the industry’s proactive sustainability work and how congress can support these efforts
  • NMPF’s role in the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance

Nicole Ayache, senior director of sustainability initiatives for NMPF, discussed how the FARM Program has led achievements for the entire sector as dairy strives to achieve ambitious sustainability and emissions goals on the April 12 Dairy Defined podcast and in an article for Hoard’s Dairyman, published on April 19.  The Earth Day theme was continued in a FARM Quick Convos on Net Zero, a Farmer Focus, and another Dairy Defined podcast featuring Krista Hardin, president and CEO of USDEC.

The FARM Program and NMPF jointly promoted U.S. dairy as part of a sustainable, equitable and secure food system to UN Food Systems Summit audiences.

NMPF Lauds Progress on Growing Climate Solutions Act, Welcomes Conservation Proposals

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF applauded bipartisan work being done on legislation that would bolster the many conservation and environmental efforts dairy producers are leading as they continue their everyday stewardship of air, land, and water resources.

Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) reintroduced on April 20 their bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act, which creates a USDA certification program permitting the department to informally endorse technical service providers that can help farmers implement environmental stewardship practices that may generate carbon credits.

The legislation, if passed, would greatly help dairy farmers seeking to achieve the sector’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality or better by 2050 through dairy’s Net Zero Initiative.

“We commend Chairwoman Stabenow and Senator Braun for continuing their bipartisan leadership on the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would encourage greater farmer participation in environmental markets,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “This legislation will enhance the proactive, sustainable initiatives dairy farmers are expanding as our sector strives to achieve carbon neutrality.”

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee passed the bill on April 22 with broad bipartisan support. On the same day, Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) reintroduced the companion House measure. NMPF submitted written testimony supporting the measure on behalf of Mulhern and Environmental Issues Committee Chair Mike McCloskey for a hearing held on the bill last June.

NMPF additionally commended House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), who last month put forward several measures to adapt farm bill conservation programs that help address climate change: allowing private sector funding to meet conservation program demand; emphasizing soil health and increasing funding for Conservation Innovation Trials; and incentivizing the adoption of precision agriculture systems.

“We thank Ranking Member Thompson for furthering the conversation on climate and sustainability by putting forward several proposals for discussion,” said Mulhern. “We agree that farm bill conservation programs can be vital to helping producers reduce their environmental footprint, and we look forward to more closely examining this suite of legislation and other proposals that may be introduced in the coming weeks.”

Environmental Stewardship Natural for Dairy, FARM’s Ayache Says

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Earth Day later this month is a natural opportunity to highlight dairy’s commitment to environmental stewardship, Nicole Ayache, NMPF’s senior director for sustainability initiatives and leader of Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development for the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program, said in an NMPF podcast released today.

“Caring for our natural resources is every day for a dairy farmer,” she says. “There’s a lot of inherent dedication to taking care of the environment, because it’s how you live your life, and where you live your life.”

Ayache discusses the structure of the FARM Program and how it has led achievements for the entire sector as dairy strives to achieve ambitious sustainability and emissions goals. The full podcast is here. You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Broadcast outlets may use the MP3 file below. Please attribute information to NMPF.