By Blake Jackson
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) toured Brickstead Dairy, a fifth-generation family-owned farm in Wisconsin, to celebrate federal investments in climate-smart agriculture.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Senator Baldwin helped pass, includes $20 billion to help farmers implement and expand climate-smart agricultural practices, such as reducing methane and other potent greenhouse gases, increasing storage of carbon in soil and trees, optimizing fertilizer use, and expanding cover crops.
The IRA also includes $14 billion to lower costs of clean energy for families and support good-paying clean energy jobs in rural communities. This funding supports rural electric cooperatives in the transition to cleaner energy, which will dramatically cut climate pollution. It also helps rural communities, farmers, and small business owners invest in clean energy and be more energy efficient.
Dan Brick, owner of Brickstead Dairy, said that funding from the IRA will help farmers implement and expand climate-smart agricultural practices, which will make living on farms healthier for farmers and their families.
Abby Novinska Lois, the executive director of Healthy Climate Wisconsin, said that planting cover crops is one example of how farmers can preserve nutrient-rich soil, reduce agricultural runoff, keep pollution out of drinking water, and lessen the need for using chemicals in the next growing season.
Alexander Malchow, the Wisconsin policy coordinator for Faith in Place, said that the Inflation Reduction Act is a pivotal investment in local communities and the environment. He said that it is essential for safeguarding the rights of historically underprivileged farmers and communities, providing them access to secure and sustainable farming practices.
Senator Baldwin said that she voted for the IRA because it is helping the agriculture community address their challenges, cut costs, and create economic opportunity. She said that she is proud to have helped secure $19.5 billion to help farmers, ranchers, and producers adopt sustainable practices, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and increase efficiency.
Photo Credit: istock-ekkasit919
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy