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

Producer-Leader Spotlight: Curt Mether

Member and past president of RIPE’s board of directors, third-generation farmer

Industry and community involvement: I am an at-large director of the U.S. Grains Council. I’m also an active member of Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, National Corn Growers Association and American Green Gas. I previously served as president of Iowa Corn Growers Association.

On the farm: I farm 1,400 acres with my wife, Anita. We grow corn and soybeans and use no-till, cover crops, and other practices that invest in soil health and water quality.

What impact would the RIPE100 plan have on farmers? There is no doubt ag can play a huge role in climate change but also in every aspect of the environment. So every practice that farmers do will help with water quality, air quality, soil erosion and soil structure, making it absorb and hold water better to even help with flood mitigation.

Farmers enrolled in RIPE will be able to recover the extra expenses from climate legislation and be able to do more of the practices that are in the RIPE roadmap, and the more farmers that participate, the better the effects will be.

What is your favorite movie or music artist? Most classic rock and roll from the ’50s to the ’80s, and country, like George Strait, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and artists from that era. I like almost any action movie, and “Diehard” is my favorite Christmas movie.

Watch the video below to learn more about why Curt and other producers support RIPE.

Bill Beam and Martin Barbre Advance RIPE Interest Within Farm Bureaus

Bill Beam, RIPE board member and former USDA FSA administrator, and Martin Barbre, RIPE consultant and former USDA RMA administrator, attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in Puerto Rico this month. They met with many American and state farm bureau leaders, and received interest in the RIPE approach. Some groups are exploring opportunities to support the policy, including joining RIPE’s Steering Committee and/or RIPE Partnership pilot advisory team. As we continue to build a national producer coalition, we look forward to initiating partnerships with farm bureau champions.

Outreach team spreads RIPE awareness in ND, TN

In early December, RIPE Director of Ag Outreach Jamie Powers attended the Prairie Grains Conference in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He briefed the full boards of North Dakota Barley Council, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, and Minnesota Soybean and supported Minnesota Wheat as they unanimously passed a resolution in alignment with RIPE’s policy principles.

Later that month, RIPE Southeast & Equity Farm Outreach Coordinator Andre Carter supported the National Black Growers Council at its annual meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. The meeting featured U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Farm Service Agency Director Zach Ducheneaux. Andre participated on a panel that included Tyson, Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice and discussed our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion (IDEA) work in the climate ag space.

Upcoming Events

National Latino Farmers and Ranchers (NLFR) Summit - Jan. 16-20, Washington, D.C.: Jamie and Andre will attend the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers (NLFR) Summit where they look forward to supporting our Steering Committee member NLFR alongside several other producer groups as they continue to identify priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill.

No-Till on the Plains Winter Conference - Jan. 23-23, Wichita, Kansas: Andre will attend the first two days of the No-Till on the Plains Winter Conference where RIPE will have a booth. He looks forward to connecting to so many early adopters of key stewardship practices!

Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference & Expo - Jan. 25-26, Jonesboro, Arkansas: On Jan. 25, Jamie will speak on a panel to address questions about our pilot program at the Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference. On Jan. 26, he will attend the Arkansas Rice Federation meeting, continuing to strengthen relationships and answer questions about RIPE.

Join Our Team!

As we gear up to advance the RIPE100 policy in the farm bill and beyond, we’re seeking to fill staff, consultant and intern positions. We have an opening for an operations manager and are seeking a government affairs consultant. Our pilot partner Virginia Tech is hiring for a Pilot Director and Communications Manager. Get the details on our careers page, and please share within your networks! We will soon add openings for farmer outreach consultants, a communications director and campaign consultant, so stay tuned.

Focus on Producer Roundtables

The RIPE Partnership pilot project will test our proposed program design with a small group of producers while we work to make it a federal policy and program available to all producers in the U.S.

To ensure that we include producer opinion, RIPE and its partners will host regular Producer Roundtables during the first two years of the pilot project, likely kicking off in mid-2023. We anticipate that these roundtables will primarily take place in the four pilot states of Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Virginia, but we may expand to other areas. Watch this space for updates on whether we are coming to your area!

The following producer groups and equity partners will host roundtables, with more to be added soon: Arkansas Rice Federation, Agricultural Council of Arkansas, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association and National Black Growers Council.

These roundtables will engage producers enrolled in the pilot as well as those interested in learning more, and sharing their thoughts and opinions on:

• RIPE’s proposal for a national program design.

• Practices included in the program, including those specific to livestock.

• Producer experience in the pilot.

• Suggestions to minimize transaction costs and barriers to entry.

• The scale of the program’s economic impact on participating farms and the level of producer interest.

To learn more about the pilot project and opportunities to participate, contact Danica MacAvoy.

It’s possible to expand this opportunity beyond the four pilot states!

A Closer Look at Riparian Herbaceous Covers

At RIPE, we continually work to expand the set of RIPE100 qualifying practices. This month, we are highlighting riparian herbaceous covers, which provide over $100 per acre in environmental benefits.

Riparian herbaceous covers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 metric ton per acre, which is worth $51 per acre. The practice can also deliver big benefits, including nearly $800 in flood mitigation, over $750 in water quality, over $150 in biodiversity, and more than $30 in soil quality, reaching a total of $1,782 per acre. Review our methodology and sources here.

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

New Money in IRA Could Fund RIPE Without Sacrificing Safety Net Programs

In September, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) authorized $370 billion for climate-related efforts, including $40 billion for USDA, half of which is for payments to farmers for climate-smart agriculture. The default use of the funds is to supplement existing farm bill conservation programs — which primarily offer cost-share payments — through 2026.

However, this new funding will likely be reassigned during farm bill negotiations. That gives us an opportunity to seek funding for the RIPE100 proposal, offering producers a minimum payment above costs associated with conservation practice implementation. This would allow producers to earn a reasonable return on their investment rather than cost-share while not taking away from existing safety net programs.

Attend a Free RIPE Webinar!

Have questions about the RIPE100 policy proposal or how you can help it become a reality? Attending a webinar is a great opportunity to have those questions answered and learn more. Click below to check out the schedule and sign up. The next webinar is on Jan. 19.

Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @RIPEroadmap and use #RIPE100!