2008 Farm Bill - Climate Change Insert

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Climate Change

Cattle in Field ImageThe Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to help producers mitigate the effects of climate change.

NRCS provides incentives and supports voluntary actions by private landowners to manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration through a portfolio of beneficial conservation programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). A wide range of conservation efforts can result in sequestration of carbon in soils and woody biomass, reduction in GHG emissions, substitution of fossil fuel with renewable energy sources, and provide additional ecosystem benefits.

NRCS works with partners to develop new technologies and tools to enable producers to make appropriate adaptive management decisions and to prepare for environmental stresses such as drought, changes in disease or pest prevalence, and floods. These efforts are critical for conservation of natural resources, continued production, and food security.

The table below illustrates just a few of the approaches that producers may want to consider in their conservation plans.

Conservation Effort GHG* Objectives Additional Ecosystem Benefits

Crops
Conservation tillage and reduced field pass intensity Sequestration
Emissions reduction		 Improves soil, water, and air quality. Reduces soil erosion and fuel use.
Efficient nutrient management Sequestration
Emissions reduction		 Improves water quality. Saves expenses, time, and labor.
Crop diversity through rotations and cover crops Sequestration Reduces erosion and water requirements.
Improves soil and water quality.

Livestock
Manure management Emissions reduction On-farm sources of biogas fuel and possibly electricity for large operations. Provides nutrients for crops.
Rotational grazing and improved forage Sequestration
 Emissions reduction		 Reduces water requirements. Helps withstand drought. Increases long-term grassland productivity.
Feed management Emissions reduction Reduces quantity of nutrients. Improves water quality. Increases efficient use of fuel.

Agroforestry
Windbreaks for crops and livestock Sequestration
Emissions reduction		 Improves crop and livestock protection and wildlife habitat. Provides alternative income source (specialty crops, hunting fees).
Silvopasture with rotational grazing and improved forage Sequestration
Emissions reduction		 Provides annual income from grazing and long-term income from wood products.
Riparian forest buffer Sequestration Improves water quality and wildlife habitat. Provides alternative income source (specialty crops, hunting fees).

Land Use Change
Conversion of cropland to grassland, wetland, or forest land Sequestration
Emissions reduction		 Improves soil, water, and air quality. Reduces soil erosion and fuel use. Improves wildlife habitat.

*Greenhouse gas.    
USDA NRCS, Helping People Help the Land
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For More Information

Please contact your local NRCS Office, USDA Service Center, or local conservation district.

Updated 01/05/2010

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