Producers and land managers are experiencing firsthand the impacts of climate change, which is caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With support from NRCS, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners across the nation’s working lands can contribute to climate solutions.
While NRCS offers a broad suite of voluntary conservation activities, the agency identifies a sub-set as critical to climate change mitigation. When applied appropriately, these activities are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sequestration. Many offer additional benefits that help operations build climate change resilience while addressing other natural resource concerns such as soil health, water quality, pollinator and wildlife habitat and air quality.
For more information on climate change mitigation and agriculture, see our booklet: The Role of Agriculture in Climate Change Mitigation
NRCS Continues to Expand Inflation Reduction Act Opportunities and Releases Science-Based Estimation Approach for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities List
NRCS released an updated list of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities eligible for Inflation Reduction Act funding in fiscal year 2025, which includes 14 new activities. NRCS also released the NRCS Conservation Practices and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Information dashboard sharing the expected mitigation benefits and science-based estimation approach for listed practices.
To learn more, see the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities and Additional Planner Guidance, NRCS Conservation Practices and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Information dashboard, Frequently Asked Questions, and The Role of Agriculture in Climate Change Mitigation.
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Activities List
See the full list of mitigation activities, including practices available through EQIP and enhancements available through CSP.
NRCS climate-smart agriculture and forestry mitigation activities are divided into mitigation categories. These mitigation categories are:
- Soil Health – Reducing emissions and enhancing soil carbon sequestration.
- Nitrogen Management – Improving nitrogen management to reduce nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Livestock Partnership – Reducing potent methane emissions through manure and feed management.
- Grazing and Pasture – Reducing emissions and building soil carbon stocks in grazing systems.
- Agroforestry, Forestry and Wildlife Habitat – Building carbon stocks in trees, perennial biomass and soils and reducing the risk of potential emissions from catastrophic wildfire.
- Restoration of Disturbed Lands – Improving the quality of previously mined or degraded lands to increase soil and perennial biomass carbon stocks.
- Energy, Combustion and Electricity Efficiency – Reducing emissions from agricultural operations and infrastructure through energy and fuel efficiency and system and operational improvements.
- Wetlands, Drainage, and Water Management – Restoring wetlands to enhance carbon storage in soils and vegetation and managing water to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, including in particular on rice fields and key organic soils.
Brief descriptions on individual climate-smart conservation activities are outlined below. New activities will be evaluated as science, innovation and quantification approaches advance.
Producers interested in applying new climate-smart activities across their operations may be eligible for financial support through the NRCS conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), as well as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, a partner-driven program that leverages partner resources to advance innovative projects that address issues such as climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act provides additional funds to support climate change mitigation through these conservation programs.
Additional opportunities to apply these activities may also be available via partners through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity that will provide technical and financial assistance to producers to implement climate-smart conservation practices on a voluntary basis on working lands.
NRCS is continually evaluating and updating our climate-smart mitigation activities to ensure the latest science and quantifiable benefits are reflected. The list will continue to be updated to reflect the latest science and any practice modifications.
Mitigation Categories
Soil Health
Producers interested in managing for soil health are encouraged to minimize soil disturbance while maximizing soil cover, biodiversity and the presence of living roots. Together, these principles reduce emissions to the atmosphere, increase carbon sequestration and have the co-benefit of reducing soil erosion, improving water infiltration, increasing nutrient cycling, decreasing money spent on inputs like fertilizer, building more resilient soils over time and serving as a climate solution.
Conservation Cover
Conservation cover is a permanent vegetative cover. Plants that produce high volumes of organic matter are recommended when this practice is applied to increase carbon sequestration and build soil health. Producers who plant conservation cover may generate co-benefits including improved water quality and strengthened benefits to wildlife or pollinator habitat. Watch the video
Conservation Crop Rotation
Conservation crop rotation is growing crops in a planned sequence on the same field over time. Producers who rotate crops may increase carbon sequestration while delivering the co-benefits of building soil health, reducing plant pest pressures, providing feed or forage for livestock and improving water quality. Watch the video
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till
No-till limits soil disturbance to manage the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and plant residue on the soil surface. Producers who practice no-till maintain crop residue throughout the year and plant directly into it. No-till may increase soil carbon sequestration while reducing emissions from the field and delivering the co-benefits of reducing fossil fuel use, increasing plant-available moisture and improving water quality. No-till reduces the amount of soil carbon released into the atmosphere when compared to soil disturbance practices, while also reducing emissions and sequestering carbon. Watch the video
Contour Buffer Strips
Contour buffer strips are narrow strips of permanent, herbaceous vegetative cover established around the hill slope on sloping cropland. These strips are alternated down the slope with wider cropped strips, farmed on the contour. Producers who apply contour buffer strips may increase carbon sequestration through perennial biomass plantings while delivering the co-benefits of reduced erosion, enhanced soil health, improved water quality and water infiltration.
Soil Carbon Amendment
Soil Carbon Amendments are materials derived from plant materials or treated animal byproducts, including compost, biochar, and other carbon-based materials. Producers who apply soil carbon amendments may increase carbon sequestration and enhance soil carbon stocks, while delivering co-benefits of improved or maintained soil organic matter, improved soil aggregate stability, and improved habitat for soil organisms.
Cover Crop
Cover crops are grasses, legumes and forbs planted for seasonal vegetative cover. Cover crops are not cash crops, but instead are planted to build soil health and carbon stocks by reducing erosion, incrementally increasing organic matter and building soil structure while reducing soil compaction. Producers who plant cover crops may also deliver co-benefits of improved water quality, suppressed weed pressure and broken pest cycles. Watch the video
Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till
Like no-till, reduced till minimizes soil disturbance to manage the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and plant residue on the soil surface throughout the year. This practice limits soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. Producers who practice reduced till may slowly build soil carbon stocks while delivering the co-benefits of increasing plant-available moisture and improving water quality. Reduced till decreases the amount of soil carbon released into the atmosphere through disturbance and supports soil carbon sequestration.
Field Border
A field border is a strip of permanent vegetation established at the edge or around the perimeter of a cropland or pasture field. Producers who implement field borders may build perennial biomass and soil carbon stocks while delivering the co-benefits of improving water quality and providing habitat for wildlife or pollinators. Watch the video
Filter Strips
Filter strips are areas of herbaceous vegetation that remove contaminants from overland flow. Filter strips are generally established where environmentally sensitive areas need to be protected from nutrient, sediment, other suspended solids and other dissolved contaminants in runoff. Producers who implement filter strips may increase soil carbon and sequester carbon in perennial biomass while preventing nitrogen from entering water bodies. This may provide the co-benefits of improving water quality while also reducing indirect emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Watch the video
Grassed Waterways
Grassed waterways are shaped channels planted to grass or other suitable vegetation to reduce the speed of water runoff. Producers who plant grassed waterways may build soil carbon, increase perennial biomass carbon and deliver the co-benefits of reducing flooding, improving water quality and protecting vulnerable soils. Watch the video
Mulching
Mulching is applying plant residues or other materials to the land’s surface. Producers who mulch using natural materials may increase soil carbon sequestration while delivering co-benefits such as improving moisture management, limiting erosion, building soil health and increasing plant health. Watch the video
Stripcropping
Stripcropping is growing planned rotations of erosion-resistant and erosion-susceptible crops or fallow in a systematic arrangement of strips across a cropland field. Producers who plant stripcrops, and in particular the addition of perennial cover grown in strips with annual crops, may increase soil carbon sequestration while delivering the co-benefits of building soil health, reducing soil erosion, improving water quality and increasing plant productivity and health.
Vegetative Barriers
Vegetative barriers are permanent strips of stiff, dense vegetation established along the general contour of slopes or across concentrated flow areas. Producers who plant vegetative barriers may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soil carbon while delivering the co-benefits of improved soil health, reduced erosion, improved water quality and increased pollinator habitat.
Herbaceous Wind Barriers
Herbaceous wind barriers are areas of herbaceous vegetation established in narrow strips within a cropland field to reduce wind speed and wind erosion. Producers who plant herbaceous wind barriers may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soil carbon while delivering the co-benefits of building soil health, reducing erosion, improving ambient air quality and strengthening plant health by reducing crop damage by wind.
Saturated Buffer
Saturated buffer includes the replacement of a cultivated riparian area with an optimized saturated buffer system with perennial vegetation. When implemented this way, this practice can lead to increased carbon sequestration in soils and perennial biomass, as well as minor nitrous oxide emissions reductions associated with the reduced fertilizer application on the formerly cultivated cropland and nitrogen scavenging of nitrogen runoff.
Nitrogen Management
While nitrogen fertilizer supports healthy plant growth, excess nitrogen may be converted into nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. NRCS’s nutrient management conservation practice may provide climate-smart benefits from implementing the 4Rs of nitrogen management – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place.
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management enables producers to manage the rate, source, placement and timing of plant nutrients and soil amendments while reducing environmental impact. This conservation practice, and particularly applications that improve nitrogen use efficiency, such as use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers, split applications, reduced application rates, and precision agriculture, may reduce nitrous oxide emissions while delivering the co-benefits of strengthening plant health and productivity, improving water quality, lowering input costs and improving or maintaining soil organic matter. Watch the video
Livestock Partnership
NRCS works with livestock producers to reduce methane emissions and support climate change mitigation related to livestock waste management and enteric methane.
Composting Facility
A composting facility is a structure or device to contain and facilitate an aerobic microbial ecosystem for the decomposition of manure, other organic material, or both, into a final product sufficiently stable for storage, on farm use, and application to land as a soil amendment. Composting facilities may be used to reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while also providing co-benefits such as reduced water pollution, energy conservation and improved soil health via potential soil amendments that may be produced.
Waste Storage Facility
A compost-bedded pack system is a specific type of waste storage facility that involves composting of manure in the animal housing operation by adding carbonaceous bedding material and regularly tilling the bedded pack to promote composting. This system may be used to reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while also providing co-benefits such as improved water quality. Watch the video
Anaerobic Digester
An anaerobic digester is a component of a waste management system where biological treatment breaks down animal manure and other organic materials in the absence of oxygen. Through the manure decomposition process, methane is generated and captured for combustion in an engine or via a flare. Anaerobic digesters may be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while delivering the co-benefits of managing odors, reducing pathogens and generating electricity for consumption on-site or sale into the electricity market.
Roofs and Covers
An anaerobic lagoon cover to capture biogas is a specific type of cover that entails a rigid, semirigid, or flexible manufactured membrane, composite material or roof structure over a waste management facility to capture biogas and reduce odor. This system may be used to reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while also providing co-benefits such as reducing odors.
Feed Management
Feed management can be used to reduce enteric methane emissions from animal feeding operations by manipulating the quantity and quality of dietary nutrients, incorporating feed additives and feed ingredients, or adjusting concentrate to forage ratio in livestock and poultry diets to lower methane produced and emitted during digestion.
Waste Separation Facility
A waste separation facility is a filtration or screening device, settling tank, settling basin or settling channel used to partition solids or nutrients from a waste stream. Producers may use a waste separation facility to strengthen manure handling methods, including in support of anaerobic digesters. This practice may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide the co-benefit of reducing odors.
Grazing and Pasture
Producers who implement conservation practices for managing grazing on pasture and range lands may improve livestock forage while sequestering carbon in perennial biomass and soils and reducing net emissions on pasture and range lands.
Brush Management
Brush management can be used to remove woody invasive vegetation through mechanical treatment to maintain or enhance native perennial grass and forb communities in arid regions, while leaving residue on-site. This implementation of the practice can be used to maintain or re-establish native perennial plant communities to restore carbon stocks while also increasing resilience to disturbances such as wildfire that would result in even greater carbon losses. The practice can also provide co-benefits including supporting critical habitat for wildlife, enhancing resilience to severe weather events, protecting soils, and improving water quality and hydrology. Watch the video
Herbaceous Weed Treatment
Herbaceous weed treatment can be used to remove herbaceous weeds to release desired deep rooted perennial species. This implementation of the practice can be used to restore weed dominated plant communities to perennial dominated plant communities, which can result in increased soil organic carbon. The practice can also provide co-benefits including supporting critical habitat for wildlife, enhancing resilience to severe weather events, and protecting soils. Watch the video
Pasture and Hay Planting
Pasture and hay planting is used to establish adapted and compatible herbaceous plants suitable for pasture or hay production. Producers who participate in pasture and hay planting may increase perennial biomass and soil carbon sequestration while delivering the co-benefits of improving livestock nutrition and health, providing available forage during periods of otherwise low production and building soil health. Watch the video
Prescribed Grazing
Prescribed grazing is managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing or browsing animals to achieve specific ecological, economic and management goals. Producers who practice prescribed grazing may improve carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of enhancing or maintaining desired plant species for forage, improving water quality and building soil health. Watch the video
Range Planting
Range planting is the establishment of adapted perennial vegetation on range land. Producers who participate in range planting may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of supporting desired plant communities, providing or improving livestock forage, improving water quality and building soil health. Watch the video
Agroforestry, Forestry and Wildlife Habitat
Producers who implement conservation practices for agroforestry, forestry and wildlife habitat may improve carbon sequestration in perennial biomass, trees and soils. These practices may sequester carbon and reduce potential emissions from wildfire to support climate change mitigation, while also improving forest and tree health, supporting wildlife, and reducing erosion.
Alley Cropping
Alley cropping is planting trees or shrubs in sets of rows with crops or forages produced between the woody plants. Producers who practice alley cropping may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of improving crop or forage quality, reducing wind and water erosion, improving water quality and building soil health.
Critical Area Planting
Critical area planting is establishing permanent vegetation on sites that have, or are expected to have, high erosion rates, and on sites that have physical, chemical, or biological conditions that prevent the establishment of vegetation with normal practices. Producers who practice critical area planting may increase soil carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of reducing soil erosion, building soil health, providing wildlife habitat, and increasing plant productivity and health. Watch the video
Forest Farming
Forest farming is managing an overstory of trees or shrubs with understory plants that are separately managed for a variety of products. Producers who practice forest farming may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering co-benefits of improving biodiversity and building soil health.
Windbreak and Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation
This practice establishes, enhances or renovates windbreaks, which are single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs planted in linear or curvilinear configurations. Producers who establish windbreaks may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of reducing erosion, protecting crops, livestock and buildings from wind-related damage, enhancing moisture management and improving ambient air quality. Watch the video
Silvopasture
Silvopasture is the establishment and management of desired tree and forage species on the same land unit. Producers who practice silvopasture to establish woody plant species on pasture or cropland may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of providing forage, shade or shelter for livestock, reducing soil and wind erosion, improving water quality, increasing wildlife and pollinator habitat and building soil health. Watch the video
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed burning is applying a planned fire to a predetermined area of land. While there may be short-term emissions as a result of this practice, over the long term, this practice can result in net mitigation benefits due to reduced risks and severity of catastrophic wildfire, a large source of CO2 and other GHG emissions, as well as potential benefits from increased carbon sequestration from maintained and enhanced plant community diversity. The practice can be applied to forests and grasslands and can also provide co-benefits including enhancing habitat, improving plant community, and enhancing soil health. Watch the video
Fuel Break
A fuel break is a strip or block of land on which the vegetation, debris, and litter have been reduced or modified to control or diminish the spread of fire. The practice can reduce the risk, spread, and intensity of wildfire, which can lead to reduced GHG emissions associated with wildfire. The practice can also provide co-benefits of enhancing habitat, plant health, and livestock forage.
Woody Residue Treatment
Woody residue treatment reduces or otherwise addresses the management of woody plant residues created during forestry, agroforestry or horticultural activities, or resulting from natural disasters. The practice can reduce hazardous fuels and the risk of wildfire or improve above ground carbon storage and soil organic matter, which can lead to reduced GHG emissions from wildfire and increased carbon sequestration. The practice can also provide co-benefits such as improved soil health and improved access to forage. Watch the video
Riparian Herbaceous Cover
Riparian herbaceous cover consists of grasses, sedges, rushes, ferns, legumes or forbs that are tolerant of intermittent flooding or saturated soils and established as the dominant vegetation between upland and aquatic habitats. Land managers who establish riparian herbaceous cover may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of enhancing wildlife or pollinator habitat, improving water quality, reducing streambank erosion and establishing desired plant communities.
Riparian Forest Buffer
A riparian forest buffer is an area covered by trees or shrubs that is located near, and generally uphill from, a body of water. Land managers who implement riparian forest buffers may generate carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while generating the co-benefits of improving water quality, restoring diversity of riparian plant communities, providing wildlife habitat and improving stream conditions for certain species. Watch the video
Wildlife Habitat Planting
Wildlife habitat planting is establishing wildlife habitat by planting herbaceous vegetation or shrubs. Producers who implement wildlife habitat plantings may generate carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of providing wildlife or pollinator habitat.
Hedgerow Planting
A hedgerow planting is dense vegetation established in a linear design. Producers who implement hedgerow plantings may generate carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of providing wildlife or pollinator habitat and developing living fences.
Tree and Shrub Establishment
This conservation practice establishes woody vegetation by planting seedlings or cuttings, direct seeding or through natural regeneration. Land managers who establish trees or shrubs may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while delivering the co-benefits of maintaining or increasing plant diversity, establishing wildlife or pollinator habitat, reducing erosion and improving water quality. Watch the video
Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities
This practice can be used to restore streams and associated floodplains using low-tech structures to kick-start natural ecological and hydrologic processes required for maintenance of healthy and functioning streams and associated floodplains. When implemented this way, this practice can revitalize hydrologic conditions that extend the residence time of soil organic carbon and enhance organic matter input from regenerated riparian vegetation, leading to increased carbon sequestration.
This practice can also be used to restore oyster reefs on shallow, subtidal, subaqueous soils without harvest of oysters. When implemented this way, this practice can reduce the availability of carbon and nitrogen by removal, assimilation into oyster biomass, and burial, in addition to nutrient removal through nitrogen burial and promoting microbial conditions that promote denitrification in nearby subaqueous soils.
In addition to these mitigation benefits, the practice can also provide co-benefits such as enhancing wildlife habitat and improving plant conditions. Watch the video
Forest Stand Improvement
Forest stand improvement is the manipulation of tree and shrub species composition, structure, or density to achieve desired forest conditions. This practice can be used to maintain or increase carbon stocks and to reduce fire risk and hazard, which could reduce GHG emissions associated with fire, while providing co-benefits such as improved forest health, productivity, and structure. Watch the video
Restoration of Disturbed Lands
Producers and landowners may work with NRCS to implement conservation practices that restore previously disturbed lands. Possible benefits may include carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils while generating co-benefits of reduced erosion, improved water quality and restored habitat. Note that eligibility for financial assistance is based on the land use where practice would be applied; certain land uses may not be eligible.
Land Reclamation, Landslide Treatment
The landslide treatment conservation practice is used to stabilize or manage natural materials, mine waste or overburden to reduce downslope movement. Producers and land managers who practice landslide treatment may increase perennial biomass and soil carbon sequestration on these degraded lands through the establishment of permanent trees, shrubs and grasses. Potential co-benefits include reducing erosion, improving water quality and generally improving land utility.
Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land
The abandoned mined land conservation practice is used to reclaim land and water areas adversely affected by past mining activities. Producers and land managers who reclaim abandoned mined land may increase carbon sequestration in perennial biomass and soils through the establishment of permanent trees, shrubs and grasses. Potential co-benefits include reducing erosion, improving water quality and providing additional utility to these degraded lands.
In 2021, the criteria for Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land were added to the criteria for Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land. Land Reclamation, Currently Mined Land will remain available as a standalone practice in 2022 during this transition.
Energy, Combustion, and Electricity Efficiency
Producers may work with NRCS to implement conservation practices that can reduce emissions through improved energy or fuel efficiency and use within their agricultural systems, infrastructure, or operations. These practices may also improve ambient air quality and lower input costs.
Combustion System Improvement
Combustion system improvement is used to replace, repower, or retrofit an agricultural combustion system and related components or devices. This practice can be used for stationary or mobile engine replacement or repower to electric motor. Producers who implement combustion system improvement may reduce carbon dioxide emissions through improved fuel efficiency while delivering the co-benefits of improving ambient air quality and lowering input costs.
Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation
An energy efficient agricultural operation includes the on-farm facilities, equipment, and management strategies that provide increased energy efficiency. This practice would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions, while delivering the co-benefits of lowering input costs.
Irrigation Pipeline
Irrigation Pipeline can be used to replace an earthen channel that is supplied by pumping water with a closed conduit. This implementation of the practice enables more efficient water conveyance due to reduced seepage and evaporation, which in turn would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions. The practice can also provide other co-benefits including increased resilience to weather variability and extreme weather and lowered input costs. Watch the video
Irrigation System, Microirrigation
Irrigation System, Microirrigation can be used to switch from higher to lower pressure irrigation systems. This implementation of the practice enables more precise and efficient water use which in turn would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions. The practice can also provide other co-benefits including increased resilience to weather variability and extreme weather and lowered input costs. Watch the video
Sprinkler System
Sprinkler System can be used to implement variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology, switch from higher to lower pressure irrigation systems, or renozzle sprinkler heads. This implementation of the practice enables more precise and efficient water use which in turn would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions. The practice can also provide other co-benefits including increased resilience to weather variability and extreme weather and lowered input costs. Watch the video
Pumping Plant
Pumping Plant can be used to replace existing pumps with high-efficiency pumps. This implementation of the practice increases pump efficiency, which in turn would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions, while delivering the co-benefits of lowering input costs and lowered input costs. Watch the video
Energy Efficient Building Envelope
An energy efficient building envelope is a boundary between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space that meets or exceeds best practices for energy efficiency. This practice would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions, while delivering the co-benefits of lowering input costs.
Energy Efficient Lighting System
An energy efficient lighting system is an agricultural lighting system with increased energy efficiency. This practice would result in energy savings that can lead to GHG emission reductions, while delivering the co-benefits of lowering input costs. Watch the video
Wetlands, Drainage and Water Management
Producers may work with NRCS to manage water, the water table, and anaerobic conditions to balance methane emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, and carbon stocks in a way that will result in reduced net greenhouse gas emissions, including in particular on rice fields and key organic soils.
Wetland Restoration
Wetland restoration is the return of a wetland and its functions to a close approximation of its original condition as it existed prior to disturbance on a former or degraded wetland site. Restoring wetlands to their natural state can result in increased methane emissions, but also results in significant carbon storage in soils and vegetation, producing an overall GHG benefit. The practice can also provide co-benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved groundwater and surface water quality, and wildlife habitat. Watch the video
Irrigation Water Management
Irrigation Water Management is the process of determining and controlling the volume, frequency and application rate of irrigation water. On rice fields, when this practice is used to implement an alternated wetting and drying (AWD) system, it may reduce methane emissions while delivering the co-benefits of improving water-use efficiency, reducing soil erosion and improving plant productivity and plant health.
Drainage Water Management
Drainage Water Management can be used on cultivated organic soils to raise the water table in the nongrowing season. When implemented this way the practice is expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while maintaining crop productivity.
Additional Resources: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
Producers and landowners interested in climate-smart agriculture and forestry are encouraged to contact the NRCS office at their local USDA Service Center for additional information, including one-on-one support specific to their operation. Visit farmers.gov/service-locator to find your local office.
Visit farmers.gov/climate-smart for additional information on climate solutions for your working land, including USDA programs and digital tools. You may access state-specific application ranking dates for NRCS conservation programs here.
Visit USDA’s Climate Solutions webpage for Department-wide resources, tools and announcements to support agricultural producers and rural communities in making informed, science-based decisions to support climate change mitigation and build climate resilience.
