The University of Idaho has launched a grant program that will support climate-smart markets and practices in Idaho.
Grants range from $38 to $74 per acre, or “$1 per head per day for grazing cover crops on enrolled acreage,” according to Idaho Capital Sun. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 21. The program represents the largest grant award in UI’s history.
The program aims to increase the adoption of climate-smart practice on “more than 200 farms in Idaho through the provision of financial and technical assistance to producers” while maintaining a focus on barley, beef, chickpeas, hops, potatoes, sugar beets and wheat, according to Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership for Idaho (IAMP) website.
The university considers this a “win-win partnership” by improving sustainability and profitability for growers. Additionally, the program will generate data that will “inform future carbon credit trading for producers,” via IAMP.
This project will receive a total of $59 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture over five years. Most of the funding will be used to incentivize farmers to improve soil health and keep greenhouse gas production to a minimum.
“At least 30% of project participants will represent underserved communities… including the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the Nez Perce and Coeur d’Alene Tribes, the Nature Conservancy in Idaho, Desert Mountain Grass-Fed Beef and Arrowleaf Consulting,” said the IAMP website.
“I’m optimistic we can make a big impact on changing agriculture in Idaho,” said Erin Brooks, a Department of Soil and Water Systems professor and an IAMP co-director, in a press release.
IAMP will fund over 200 farms and aims to prevent 31,000 to 70,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents from entering the atmosphere.
While the grants plan on prioritizing growers in Idaho’s southern and eastern regions, applications are open to farms all around the state.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu.