Published in Winter 2022
By: Megan Kemple, Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network
While agriculture is uniquely threatened by the impacts of the climate crisis--wildfires, drought, extreme weather events--it is also poised to address it. With sufficient resources, farmers and ranchers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and store carbon in soil and woody plants. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, we cannot reach our goals to cool the planet without investing in soil carbon sequestration strategies in addition to cutting global greenhouse gas emission. Agricultural land management is one of the most ready and cost-effective pathways to get us there--while also providing wildlife and pollinator habitat, clean water and air.
The State of Oregon is opening up exciting policy pathways to support climate resilience on agricultural lands. The Oregon Global Warming Commission (OGWC) recently proposed strategies for carbon sequestration and storage by Oregon’s natural and working lands, including agricultural lands in their Natural and Working Lands Proposal. Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network (OrCAN) and partners provided input on the Proposal and OrCAN supports all of the agriculture-related strategies in the Proposal.
There are some promising opportunities for Oregon agriculture included in the Proposal. OrCAN is especially excited about the recommendation to invest in Oregon’s crop and rangelands through establishment of a comprehensive climate-smart agricultural program. The program would evaluate and incentivize soil health practices and other climate-smart practices.
These practices include:
• cover cropping
• compost application
• hedgerow and riparian plantings
• reduced tillage and no till
• rotational grazing
• crop rotation
• nutrient management
• silvopasture and agroforestry
Other ways of looking at these practices are to focus on the four principles of soil health: keep the soil covered, minimize soil disturbance and inputs, maximize biodiversity (which can include integrating animals), and maintain living roots.
These practices and principles not only build healthier soils, they improve water retention and filtration on farms, sequester carbon and support adaptation to an ever-changing climate. Other climate-smart agricultural practices include on-site renewables, irrigation modernization, and alternative manure management.
To adopt these and other practices on a wider level farmers need technical assistance, education and financial incentives. The Proposal recommends a climate-smart agricultural program which would:
• Promote climate-smart management practices
• Promote farmer-to-farmer learning
• Integrate outreach and education efforts
• Include soil health demonstration projects
• Highlight soil health improvement efforts
• Provide incentives for implementing climate-smart practices
OrCAN is also encouraged that the OGWC proposal highlights the important role of agriculture: “With Oregon’s ….productive agricultural and rangelands, we have the potential, if not the imperative, to enhance our natural and working lands’ significant contribution to climate change mitigation.”
What’s Next?
Now we need to make sure these recommendations are implemented. OrCAN and partners will be working hard to pass a bill during the 2022 legislative short session to develop the soil health and climatesmart agricultural program. We’ll also be involved with program development and implementation to ensure the programs and strategies are strong on climate, practical for farmers, and support a resilient and equitable food system.
There’s a place for you as part of this exciting work. You can engage with OrCAN by advocating to the legislature and providing input on development of the climate-smart agriculture program. Help us advocate for strong policies that work for farmers on the ground!
To get engaged with OrCAN contact Megan Kemple, Director of Policy Advocacy [email protected]