RIPE100 policy proposal: $100/unit for stewardship, implementation costs after first year

RIPE Looks to Finalize $80M Grant Details With Partners, USDA

Have you heard our big news? The USDA awarded the RIPE Partnership, led by RIPE, Virginia Tech and partners, an $80-million grant to pilot the RIPE100 principles in a three-year program!

Many thanks to the RIPE Steering Committee members who are partners on the project and played a key role in attaining this award: Arkansas Rice Federation, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, the National Black Growers Council, North Dakota Farmers Union and North Dakota Grain Growers Association.

Through this pilot, producers in Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Virginia will earn $100 per acre or animal unit for stewardship practices. Historically underserved and limited-resource producers will earn an equity payment of $125 per acre and receive additional targeted outreach. Partners will also conduct technical workshops to strengthen and refine a federal program. They will focus on:

• Refining payment terms to ensure they remain above costs.

• Integrating productivity increases alongside climate-smart practices.

• Supporting smaller producers.

• Refining livestock impact measurement tools

• Prototyping a certificate that can be sold in the private market.

There will also be an advisory council of pilot partners and other stakeholders to guide the project.

Pilot Will Help Refine Proposal for Federal Program

The USDA funded more than 70 pilot projects through this program, and RIPE will use this opportunity to refine our proposal for a federal climate-smart ag program that rewards producers and complements private sector opportunities. Many of the other projects are focused on private market investments, and while those are important, they will not be enough to transform the U.S. agricultural sector. Public sector investment remains critical to expanding this opportunity to every producer.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to reward producers, evaluate logistics, integrate producer feedback, and generate more evidence on the long-term economic and environmental benefits a federal RIPE100 program would provide.

Watch this space for updates and more information in the coming months as lead applicant Virginia Tech finalizes funding details with USDA, and works with RIPE and other partners to solidify program details.

The media was buzzing with news of our pilot! Here are a few mentions, from ABC 8News in Central Virginia, Virginia Business and Successful Farming, plus another from The Roanoke Times, which features an eighth-generation farmer who hopes to benefit from the RIPE Partnership.

The pilot also has the attention of Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, who released a joint statement applauding USDA’s investment in climate-smart ag and the role that many of their state’s organizations — including RIPE partners Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Farmers Union and Minnesota Soil Health Coalition — will play in pilot programs.

For more early details of the RIPE Partnership pilot and Virginia Tech’s role, check out this article from the university.

You can also read more articles about RIPE and the pilot on our website.

RIPE Releases Farm Bill Platform - Help Us Reach Your Network!

We are excited to share that we’ve just released our farm bill platform! You can view it here. Our goal is to engage agricultural organizations with the following principle: New funds for climate should invest in equitable payments above the cost of implementing conservation practices.

You can play a critical role in advancing this platform by sharing it within your networks and organizations. Want help in talking to your commodity or ag organization about RIPE? Contact us at GetInvolved@RIPEroadmap.org.

USDA Leadership Expresses Support for RIPE100 Approach

RIPE board President Curt Mether, RIPE staff and our policy consultants recently met with USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie and his leadership team overseeing climate and conservation issues.

We shared the detailed methodology RIPE uses to quantify the impact of climate-smart agriculture and an overview of key findings. The USDA leadership expressed support of the overall concept and asked our input on a few items. We suggested they expand the list of NRCS-defined climate-smart practices to include more items that we’ve identified to deliver over $100 per acre or animal unit of environmental benefits, including several rice practices and livestock practices. They acknowledged the need to assess.

They recognized the RIPE proposal was important to pilot and demonstrate the public benefits. The following week, we learned the RIPE Partnership pilot was approved. We see this as another promising sign of their support for this approach.

RIPE Rolls With No-Till on the Plains Bus Tour

In August, RIPE Agricultural Outreach Director Jamie Powers joined FAN member Mike McDonald and over 40 other producers on the No-Till on the Plains Dakotas Soil Health Bus Tour. The event kicked off in Kansas and included events in Nebraska as well as the Dakotas. Jamie briefed the bus audience on the RIPE100 proposal, continued to build interest and fielded questions throughout the trip. We thank coordinator Aaron Sawyers and the No-Till on the Plains board of directors for hosting such a fantastic event!

Upcoming Event

Oct. 27-29, Albuquerque, New Mexico: RIPE Ag Outreach Director Jamie Powers will attend the third annual National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Congress. He will be there in support of the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association, a RIPE steering committee member. We look forward to building awareness and support for RIPE’s work among Latino producers, and we hope to see some of you there!

A Closer Look at Early Drainage With Winter Flooding (Rice)

We continually work to expand the set of RIPE100 qualifying practices. This month, we are highlighting early drainage with winter flooding for rice, which provides over $100 per acre in environmental benefits.

Rice producers who implement early drainage with winter flooding provide significant climate benefits. The practice reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 0.7 metric tons per acre, which is worth $37 per acre. However, the practice can also deliver over nearly $500 in water quality benefits per acre, as well soil quality benefits, reaching a total of $527 per acre. Review our methodology and sources here.

See the full list of RIPE’s qualifying practices here.

RIPE100 Benefit Could Be 9x Greater Than Cost

When we met with USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie, we informed him of the huge potential RIPE100’s principles have to benefit the public and producers. Key findings we shared are that climate-smart ag delivers 17 times greater public benefit than carbon alone, and that at $100 per unit, RIPE100 would deliver a 9:1 public-benefit ratio when rolled out nationally.

You’re Invited!

Whether you’re new to our emails thanks to the pilot announcement (Welcome!) or have been around for a while, we invite you to attend one of our monthly webinars about the RIPE100 policy proposal. You’ll learn more about our goals and plans to get there, and get your questions answered by RIPE staffers. Click below to check out the schedule and sign up. Share the registration with your friends!

Producers Share Why They Back RIPE

As a producer-led organization working to get farmers and ranchers a reasonable return for conservation practices, we love to hear why you back RIPE! Some RIPE champions recently shared their thoughts on why they support our proposal. See what they had to say.

We want to hear from you too! Tell us why you support RIPE on Facebook or Twitter @RIPEroadmap, #RIPE100.