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Electrify NY! Panel November 19, 2:30pm (free online registration)

Join us for a panel presentation of opportunities for NYers to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through efficiency and electrification!

 

Electrify New York (efficiency & electrification opportunities)

See also the Nov 20 companion hands-on Energy Expo: Featuring fossil-fuel-free equipment, tools, tech, & management strategies

 

 

PANEL: Electrify New York (efficiency & electrification opportunities)

Efficiency+Electrification = Improved Air Quality + Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions + Conserved NYS Natural Resources

In 2019, New York State passed ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigating legislation. Most of NYS’s greenhouse gas emissions come from combusting fossil fuels for heating, cooling, and transportation used in our personal and professional lives. Anything we can do in our local communities to reduce this fossil combustion improves our air quality, reduces GHG, and reduces the demand on rural landscapes to support renewable energy projects. Come join a panel of Extension, Community Organizers, NYS Office of Climate, and Technical Service Providers as we discuss opportunities that mobilize energy efficiency and electrification projects in our local communities to conserve our shared natural resources.

Panelists:

  • Overview: Integrating Multiple NYS Goals to Conserve our Finite Landbase –Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University
  • Farm Energy Efficiencies: Accessing Technical Support & Grants -Gabriel Gurley, CCE-Tompkins
  • Electrify Landscaping Equipment: Save Money, Energy, & Heath -Ken Estes, CCE-Livingston
  • Weatherize Homes: Save Energy, Reduce GHG, Protect Health -Josh Randall, CCE-Niagara
  • Efficiency Pilots: Life Changing Impact for Low Income Homeowners: Join a Manufactured Housing working group to help build policy in NYS -Danielle Eiseman, Dept of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University
  • pending, Steven Winter Associates, Multi-family building retrofit playbook
  • NYS Cap and Invest (NYCI) Program (zooming in) -Maureen Leddy, Office of Climate Change

 

Did You Know

Most of our Greenhouse Gas emissions come from fueling our buildings and transportation?

    • These emissions can be reduced dramatically by efficiency and electrification while improving equity and well-being for all.

 

 

Did You Know

In 2019, NYS passed unprecedented legislation: Reduce GHG emissions 85% by 2050?

 

 

This panel is part of the larger 3-day Cornell Cooperative Extension conference: Agriculture, Food & Environmental Systems In-Service (Nov 19-21, 2024)

DEFINITIONS:

  • Decarbonization: reducing or eliminating carbon (fossil fuel) emissions from a sector (transportation, buildings, and power).
  • Electrification: replacing technologies that run on fossil fuels with alternatives that run efficiently on electricity. It also means generating all that electricity from clean energy rather than fossil fuels.
  • Weatherization: home improvements that reduce energy use and make homes more comfortable (moisture control, air sealing, ventilation, and upgrades to insulation, doors and windows).

Fall Webinar Series: Climate and Communities 2nd wed/month 1pm EST, free

Join us for 4 free webinars scheduled for this fall from across the United States.

WHEN:

  • 2nd Wednesday of the month
  • 1pm EST
  • Please register for each event of interest

Most events will be recorded and shared publicly here, after the event recording has been processed.

Scroll for more details about each event, below.

September 11, 1pm EST: YOUTH & Climate, all youth recordings Here!

This hour long webinar will  discuss multiple ways to engage youth with climate change: teaching the need to replace fossil fuels in our energy systems, programs to support youth climate digital app development, and working creating culturally inclusive curricula with indigenous communities.

TITLE: Where Does Gasoline Go? Why We Must Replace Fire in Our Energy System
PRESENTER: Don Haas (Director of Teacher Programming at The Paleontological Research Institution)

Did you know a gallon of gasoline weighs about six pounds? Burning ten gallons of gas a week means sixty pounds seemingly disappear from the tank. What becomes of it, when placed in the context of 374 million gallons that we burn in the US every day, is an astonishing but undeniably true tale. Where does it go? Why should we care?

Key Resource: Climate & Energy Resources on PRI’s Earth@Home: https://climate.earthathome.org/

NOTE: PRI has online workshop in mid-October, and we can do workshops for groups. You can subscribe for announcements here: http://eepurl.com/goSjST

TITLE: Youth Power to Reduce Carbon Power
PRESENTER: Donna Nuger (4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension)

Nuger will discuss how youth are using their interest in technology and coding to increase awareness and inspire changes in people’s habits to decrease their carbon output, leading to a reduction in global warming.

TITLE: Creating a Culturally Inclusive Climate Change Curriculum with and for Indigenous People: Lessons Learned
PRESENTER: Ros McCann (Utah State University – Moab)

As part of a national science foundation project inspired by the NECI network, Ros will share her experience in building relationships with tribal members in the Colorado Plateau region. This will include an overview of how she formed a diverse team to co-create a climate change curriculum by and for Indigenous participants, what the curriculum entailed and the products that resulted from this process. Coverage here: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-helps-host-unique-and-indigenous-student-specific-natural-resource-leadership-program

Curriculum can be found here:Utah NATURE Climate Module_ A Co-Created Menu Utah NATURE Climate Module_ A Co-Created Menu

 

SPEAKER BIOS

Don Haas (formerly, Don Duggan-Haas) is the Director of Teacher Programming at The Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth & Cayuga Nature Center in Ithaca, NY. He is a nationally regarded expert in climate and energy education, place-based and technology-rich Earth and environmental science education; and is a past president of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. He is co-author of the books, The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change and The Science Beneath the Surface: A Very Short Guide to the Marcellus Shale. He strives to help others thrive in their teaching and learning, especially as related to climate and energy and he wants you to talk more about fire.

Donna Nuger joined University of Illinois Extension in 2004. During her tenure, she has focused on STEM and Youth Leadership. Environmental education field trips for youth in grades K-8 have ranged from the half day program, Pumpkin Day for the little ones to full day events like Natural Resources Day and multi-day events that included Environmental Science in Action with hands on research and career exploration. Nuger initiated and implemented 4-H Science Ambassadors that encouraged 4-H Teen Teachers and individual projects/research. Nuger has received and coordinated Ag Innovators Experience grants through National 4-H, funded by Monsanto/Bayer for Illinois. She looks forward to making future contributions in the area of climate change and ensuring that our youth have a healthy planet for their future.

Roslynn Brain McCann is a Professor & Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist in the Department of Environment and Society, College of Natural Resources at Utah State University. She teaches undergraduates Communicating Sustainability, helps lead the National Extension Climate Initiative, is the coordinator USU Extension Sustainability’s Utah Farm-Chef-Fork, the USU Permaculture Initiative, and Sustainable You! kids’ camps, co-leads the Utah High School Clean Air Marketing Contest, and is engaged in tribal climate change resilience.

October 9, 1pm EST: Empowering Communities: 1890 Land-Grant Institutions Tackling Climate Change, Recordings here. 

This hour long webinar will discuss the crucial role of 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in tackling climate change faced by underserved communities.

TITLE: The Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice:  Ensuring Resilience for Underserved Communities
PRESENTER: Alton Thompson (Executive Director, Association of 1890 Research Directors, ARD)

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and addressing it requires a strong commitment to research and development. For too long, environmental policy have failed to adequately address environmental injustice, particularly the unequal and cumulative effects of pollution and climate change on low-income communities and communities of color. Researchers at the 1890 land-grant universities, informed by their lived experiences of these communities, play a critical role in developing student leaders, advocates, while also supporting rigorous scientific analysis on issues like community and agricultural resiliency, climate adaptation and environmental justice.

TITLE: Leveraging AI and Innovation to Empower Future Leaders in Resource-Limited Communities
PRESENTER: Ali Fares (Professor of Water Security, Prairie View A&M University)

Dr. Fares’ academic program uses cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence to address resource challenges in the water-energy-food nexus for communities with limited resources. By training future leaders and professionals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) through various outreach activities based on his research, Dr. Fares empowers them to tackle climate change challenges effectively and develop and implement sustainable solutions.

PRESENTER: Raymon Shange (1890 Extension Administrator, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension)

SPEAKER BIOS

Dr. Thompson provides leadership and coordination in representing ARD in developing multistate and national priorities and implementing a regional response for the 1890 system. In addition, Thompson promotes, articulates and advocates the priorities of the 1890 region’s research agenda within the framework of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Agriculture (NIFA), other federal agencies and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Thompson serves in an executive capacity on several committees and working groups focusing on legislative issues, federal, state and private appropriation of funds for 1890 multistate research and the long-term direction of established and developing 1890 universities initiatives. Key Resource: Foundation for Food Agriculture and Research (FAR)

Ali Fares is the Endowed Professor at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Texas and Chair of Water Security, Water Energy and Food Nexus. He is currently the editor of the Water Security Book Series.  He has edited two books and published 14 book chapters, over 20 conference proceedings, and over 74 articles in peer reviewed journals. His research interests include disaster preparedness and resiliency, flood prediction and mitigation, water security, water-energy-food nexus, watershed hydrology and management, water allocation, irrigation management, and adaptation and mitigation of climate variability. Currently he is doing research on Reducing Energy Barriers for Novel Water. Dr Fares’ research in artificial intelligence in agriculture as well as several inter-disciplinary, multi-institution projects, is supported by millions of dollars. His testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee urged federal support to address “specific climate change needs of the underserved farming communities and train future professionals in climate-smart agriculture discipline.” Key Resource: https://works.bepress.com/fares-ali/

Dr. Shange’s research and teaching interests encompass the areas of: Ecology (Agroecology, Microbial Ecology, Molecular Ecology, and Ecological Engineering), Sustainable Agriculture, Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems, Rural Energy & Water, Natural Resource Management, Integration of Art, Science and Nature, and Environmental Ethics and Justice. He has been an 1890’s Extension Administrator since 2022.

November 13, 1pm EST: ELECTRIFICATION & Climate, Recording here.

This hour long webinar will  discuss multiple ways to understand how ‘electrification’ can save money, decrease greenhouse gases, and improve health and well-being in our daily lives.

TITLE: Electrification: Climate Action or Personal Benefit?
PRESENTER: Brian Stewart (Co-Founder of Electrify Now)

Whether your motivation is to fight climate change, improve the safety and comfort of your home, reduce your health risks, or lower your energy bills, the sensible actions are the same – electrify your home and personal transportation. We will discuss how the topic of electrification can be approached from multiple entry points that each might resonate with our audience in different ways to help them to take action.

Key Resource: Electrify Now webinars on all things electrification: https://electrifynow.net/electrify-coalition-webinars

TITLE: Electrify your Landscaping Equipment: It’s Clean, It’s Quiet, It’s Healthy 
PRESENTER: Mark Puhlman (Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, Board Member)

Tackling climate change can seem to be an overwhelming proposition. But there is a key strategy that can make a major impact: Electrify Everything. Transitioning gas-powered landscaping equipment to electric helps the community take meaningful action addressing climate change while also improving air quality and reducing harmful noise levels in our community. This short talk will discuss the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network’s efforts to encourage a small community in the state of Oregon transition from Gas-powered equipment to electric landscaping equipment. Included are actions that the individual citizen can take to advance the transition.

Key Resource: https://mailchi.mp/15638b3e0577/losn-sustainability-insider-april-2021

TITLE: Energy Circuit Riders Spur Clean Energy Progress in Rural New Hampshire
PRESENTER: Sarah Brock (Clean Energy New Hampshire, Energy Circuit Rider Program Director)

New Hampshire’s unique Energy Circuit Rider (ECR) program embeds clean energy experts in rural New Hampshire communities, providing capacity and technical support to get projects done. Hosted by nonprofit Clean Energy NH and funded through a mix of philanthropic and federal sources, the program is currently supporting over 180 community-based energy projects in over 80 towns. The ECR program also supports small businesses statewide in applying for USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, with grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Join us to hear reflections from the field: what works to spur community-based clean energy action, and what you can do to move projects forward in your own community.

Key Resource: Direct Pay / Elective Pay Guide

SPEAKER BIOS

Brian Stewart is a co-founder of Electrify Now, a volunteer organization devoted to educating energy consumers and homeowners about the health and economic benefits of electrification and the role that all of us can play to accelerate the world to clean renewable energy and a sustainable future. Brian has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Mark Puhlman is a board member of the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network, a volunteer organization of concerned citizens in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He holds a doctorate as a nurse practitioner and has worked in the area of heart failure for 45 years. He became interested in sustainability in high school but became very active in this area about 5 years ago after he retired. He is a Board Member of the Sustainability Advisory Board of Lake Oswego as well as a Board Member of the Forest Highlands Neighborhood Association. He has been involved in electrification and urban forest preservation.

Sarah Brock joined Clean Energy New Hampshire as Director of CENH’s Energy Circuit Rider Program in 2024. Sarah works with our growing team of Energy Circuit Riders to help municipalities and small businesses plan, finance, and implement clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Prior to joining Clean Energy New Hampshire, Sarah spent over a decade implementing community-based climate, energy, and transportation programming at Vital Communities, a nonprofit serving the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire.

December 11, 1pm EST: RESILIENCY PLANNING & Climate, Register here.

This hour long webinar will share three different examples for engaging resiliency planning in local communities.

TITLE: Building Climate Resiliency through Disaster Preparedness Education
PRESENTER: Kimberly Davis, Extension Emergency Management Specialist, FAMU Extension Disaster Education Programs, Florida A&M University (FAMU)

TITLE: Preparing Agents of Change for Tomorrow: Building Youth Confidence and Capacity for Climate Resilient Futures in Appalachia 
PRESENTER: Megan Kruger, Evaluation and Research Specialist and Environmental Educator, West Virginia University Extension

TITLE: Filling Gaps in Coastal Communities with Asset Mapping
PRESENTER: Jack Voight, Coastal Community Resilience Immersive Training (C-CRIT) Program, Americorps Assessment Coordinator

This talk will discuss experiences working with the C-CRIT program and the work we completed. It will describe future plans for the program and how it can be improved to best fit the needs of different coastal communities. Also describe what I learned about Jones County, North Carolina and specific barriers that hinder the county’s ability to build back with resiliency.

 

SPEAKER BIOS

Ms. Kimberly Davis is an Extension Agent/Emergency Management Specialist with the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension Family, Youth and Community programs/4-H Youth Development. Her areas of specialization include natural resources, environmental education, disaster preparedness and safety. She has over 25 years’ experience in coordinating STEM and environmental education outreach programs including the Kids Involved in Math and Sciences (KIMS) Program, and the Forestry and Conservation Education (FACE) Summer Program. She also worked over 10 years with the Florida Division of Emergency Management as an Environmental Scientist and Planning Manager. She holds a M.S. degree in Agricultural Sciences with a major in Environmental Sciences from FAMU.

Jack Voight is an undergraduate student and researcher from North Carolina State University. majoring in Environmental Engineering and researching as part of the Coastal & Computational Hydraulics Team with mentor Dr. Casey Dietrich. Jack was born and raised on the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

To see our previous webinars, please visit our YouTube channel

Spring 2024 Topics

YOUTH & Climate, Recording Here.

STORYTELLING & Climate, Recording Here.

DIY–Self-Guided Climate Instruction, Recording Here.

COMMUNITIES & Climate, Recordings Here: WA Latine Co-created Materials, PA Women Forest Owners

AGING & Climate, Recordings Here.

 

 

 

HOST: this “CONNECTING CLIMATE to COMMUNITIES” webinar series is hosted by National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) Curriculum Working Group – a volunteer group looking to share resources amongst interested extension educators.

This program was curated by NECI CWG Active Volunteers Summer 2024

David Kay, Cornell University

James Shope, Rutgers University

Patricia Townsend, Washington State University

Rebecca Ward, NC State University

Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University

Join us or any NECI working group -learn more here: https://nationalextensionclimateinitiative.net/workinggroups/

***NECI is actively seeking a Communications Lead, please contact David Kay if you are interested.

$50 million to help private forest landowners mitigate climate change

Forest Landowner Support provides competitive grant opportunities to entities and organizations for delivering technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners—including Tribes, underserved landowners, and smaller-acreage landowners.

To see the following opportunities, go here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/state-private-tribal-forestry/coop-forestry/ira-forest-landowner-support

Funding: RCPP Upper Susquehanna Ag BMPs, due Aug 23

Accepting Applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program in the New York portion of the Upper Susquehanna Watershed.

July 25, 2024

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the sign-up period for Farmstead Practices in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed of New York through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).  The application deadline is August 23, 2024.

This funding is part of the RCPP Upper Susquehanna Agricultural BMP Implementation Project. The RCPP uses partnerships to coordinate and target resources to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability. The Upper Susquehanna Agricultural BMP Implementation Project is focused on reducing field nutrient, sediment and pathogen loss, improving the storage and handling of pollutants, as well as improving livestock production limitations in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed portion of New York.

All applications are competitive and are ranked based on locally identified resource priorities, as well as the overall benefit to the environment. Interested landowners within the project area in New York should contact their local NRCS Service Center or their local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information.

 

Contact

Emily Dekar

(607)972-7983

dekare@tiogacountyny.gov

good news! global emissions plateau?

Today, officially, I’m adding a new blog category: the good news category!

This paper from Nature, indicates, maybe, just maybe our global emissions might be stabilizing, WHICH MEANS, soon our efforts can result in decreased total emissions! By this estimate, in 0.5–6 years (67% likelihood).

GO TEAM!

Much Love.

Here are more details.

Global CO2 emissions for 2023 increased by only 0.1% relative to 2022 (following increases of 5.4% and 1.9% in 2021 and 2022, respectively), reaching 35.8 Gt CO2. These 2023 emissions consumed 10–66.7% of the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C, suggesting permissible emissions could be depleted within 0.5–6 years (67% likelihood).

Energy Efficiency Programs for NY farmers, homeowners, businesses

Collaborate to Improve Energy Conservation and Efficiency on Your Farm, Home or Non-Farm Business

(and Save Money!)

(note this fact sheet was made for Western NY, but is generally applicable to the state! Thanks for sharing John Whitney!)

Jordan Miller, EnSave, Inc., (contractor on Behalf of NYSERDA)

John Whitney, Agricultural Educator, CCE-Erie

Josh Randall, Natural Resources Educator, CCE-Niagara

Farms in Western New York counties are playing a vital role in the overall success of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Agriculture Energy Audit Program (AEAP). In Erie and Niagara Counties alone 82 farms have participated and received no-cost energy audits through the AEAP. The estimated annual energy cost savings from these 82 farms is $677,443. equipment and system modifications, if installed, mean on-farm fuel savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and a stronger and more sustainable agriculture community. But we need your help to do even more.

Collaborative Opportunities for Farms

To learn more about these programs, click: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Agriculture-Energy-Assistance

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, CCE-Erie will host a Western New York Ag Energy Efficiencies Webinar from 12:00-1:30 pm. Gabriel Gurley, the Ag Energy NY Program Manager will discuss these many opportunities in more detail. Watch for registration details.

Energy Conservation for Homes and Businesses

While these agricultural energy conservation programs do not directly support home and non-farm businesses, NYSERDA is funding a network of clean energy conservation “hubs” across New York State. In Western New York, under the leadership of PUSH Buffalo/PUSH Green, the WNY Clean Energy Hub is coordinating home and business assistance for:

  • Home Energy Surveys
  • Energy Efficiency & Weatherization
  • Clean Heating and Cooling
  • Rooftop Solar
  • Community Solar
  • Green Jobs
  • Health and Safety

Seven partner organizations, under the leadership of PUSH Green (under the PUSH Buffalo umbrella) are collaborating to support this NYSERDA-funded initiative:

If you have any questions or if you want to discuss these opportunities and services in person, contact:

  • Jordon Miller, Contractor on behalf of NYSERDA, EnSave Inc., 802-434-1872, or Toll Free 800-732-1399, jordanm@ensave.com, (ensave.com);
  • John Whitney, Agricultural Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension – Erie, 716-796-3204, jrw44@cornell.edu;
  • Josh Randall, Natural Resources Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Niagara

716-433-8839, jmr486@cornell.edu;

  • Lou DeJesus, Community Energy Program Manager, PUSH Green, 716-886-1780 x215
  • Gabriel Gurley, Ag Energy NY Program Manager, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins, (607) 272-2292 ext.248, rg523@cornell.edu

5 steps for regenerative agriculture with respect to climate (targeting Hudson Valley NY)

These 5 steps were designed for small/medium farms (fruit, vegetable, grazing) in the Hudson Valley NY to build climate resilient farming.

Each step has a worksheet to help you think about it on your farm.

For more details, go here: https://regenerativefarmresilienceguide.org/

Step 1

Gather and summarize information about your operation including your assets under management and your farm goals using two simple tools to create a snapshot of your farm’s current business condition and revisit your farm and family goals.

Step 2

Learn more about the current and expected climate change effects in your region to identify the climate-related threats and opportunities specific to your farm operation.

Step 3

Select a complementary set of climate risk management strategies that draw on a diversity of farm resources to cultivate the specific and general climate resilience of your farm.

Step 4

Evaluate selected climate risk management strategies and associated practices to identify those that are a “best fit” for your farm operation.

Step 5

Make a climate resilience plan to implement a group of complementary “best fit” climate resilience practices, including a timeline, specific steps to implementation, and monitoring the performance of your new practices to climate risks.

 

 

County Working Groups hosted by NRCS

Local Working Group Meeting to be Held on July 16th for Erie County

The USDA – NRCS will hold a Local Working Group meeting for Erie County. This meeting is open to the public.

WHEN: 07/16/2024
TIME: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
WHERE: USDA Service Center Conference Room
Address: 50 Commerce Way, East Aurora, NY 14055

The Local Working Group will focus on identifying agricultural and natural resource issues existing in your community and providing information and feedback to NRCS. Participants may be agricultural producers; owners of nonindustrial private forestland; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; and representatives of governmental agencies carrying out environmental, agricultural, or natural resource conservation programs and activities.

NRCS Local Working Groups are subcommittees of the NRCS State Technical Committee and provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and Farm Bill program conservation activities. For information about the State Technical Committee, contact Angela VanDyke via e-mail, angela.vandyke@usda.gov.

To participate in your Local Working Group, please contact Ray Hummel, your local District Conservationist, via e-mail at Raymond.hummel@usda.gov. Directions and phone numbers to your local USDA Service Center can be found online at https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.

 Please Contact Ray Hummel by July 12th if you would like to attend!

Funding! Round 8 Climate Resilient Farming Grants opened for NYS landowners! $28 million

RECORD INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

 

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Provides Nearly $82 Million for Programs that Assist Farms to Implement Environmentally Sustainable Best Practices, Protect Soil and Water Quality, and Reduce Greenhouse Gases

 

Announces $28.75 Million is Now Available for On-Farm Projects Through the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program

 

 

Governor Kathy Hochul today, during Earth Week, announced that as part of record funding being invested in the State’s agricultural stewardship programs, $28.75 million is now available for on-farm projects through the Climate Resilient Farming grant program. Round 8 of CRF provides critical funding that helps New York’s farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect water, ensure soil health, and increase on-farm resiliency to the effects of a changing climate. Under the Governor’s leadership, the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget provides $81.8 million through the Environmental Protection Fund, up $4 million from last year, for agricultural programs and initiatives, such as Climate Resilient Farming grant, that are helping farms to implement environmentally sustainable practices and combat climate change.

 

“Our farmers work hard to feed our communities, producing food in a way that is also thoughtful about protecting our precious natural resources,” Governor Hochul said.  “The Climate Resilient Farming grant program is providing record funding to further assist our farmers and their Soil and Water Conservation Districts to elevate water quality and help New York State meet our climate goals.”

 

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball today visited Providence Farm Collective in Orchard Park along with a number of agricultural partners, including the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, New York Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee Chair, United States Department of Agriculture, the Western NY Land Conservancy, as well as elected officials and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for an Earth Week celebration and to announce the CRF program funding opportunity. Round 8 of the CRF program also offers record funding this year, nearly $30 million, double what was available in the last round of the program.

 

Providence Farm Collective was awarded funding through the Erie County SWCD and under Round 7 of the Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) program to install an irrigation water management system, which, when installed will promote greater environmental efficiencies, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve on-farm resiliency to extreme weather events, such as drought.  Providence Farm Collective is a non-profit farm, which supports refugee, immigrant BIPOC and under-resourced farmers in Western New York by offering access to clean, rural farmland, farming and business education, technical assistance, access to markets, and, critically important, the opportunity to farm for income through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

 

During the visit, the farm shared its current environmentally sustainable farming practices, which includes growing cover crops, intercropping, and crop rotation for soil health; using high tunnels to extend the growing season; drip-line irrigation and water conservation practices; protecting its 37-acre home forever as farmland with an agricultural conservation easement, and more.

 

Funding for CRF Round 8 is provided by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and, for the first time, additional funding is being provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its NYS Connects: Climate Smart Farms and Forests Project through the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities Program.

 

Awards will be made in the following tracks, which will assist projects related to livestock and manure management; water management and erosion control; and soil health management projects. Practices such as manure storage cover and methane capture projects, manure solid/liquid separation, prescribed grazing, cover crops, conservation tillage, irrigation, soil and water management structures, riparian buffers, tree planting, and many more are also eligible for funding.

 

  • Track 1A: Livestock Management: Alternative Waste Management & Precision Feed Management (NYS funds)
  • Track 1B: Manure Storage Cover and Methane Capture Projects (federal funds)
  • Track 2: Adaptation & Resiliency (NYS funds)
  • Track 3A: Healthy Soils NY (Systems and Best Management Practices that support soil health and agroforestry (NYS funds)
  • Track 3B: Soil Health Systems (federal funds)
  • Track 4: Agricultural Forestry Management (for carbon sequestration) (NYS funds)

 

This year’s program also includes a new funding track, Agricultural Forest Management, with approximately $1 million allocated to support healthy productive forests and afforestation on agricultural lands, goals that are a part of the New York State Climate Action Council’s Scoping Plan.

 

Through seven rounds of CRF funding to date, $36 million has been awarded to 396 farms that are estimated to deliver the equivalent of 454,000 metric tons of CO2e per year emissions reductions, equivalent to removing 108,053 cars from the road for one year.

 

The County Soil and Water Conservation Districts in NYS can apply now on behalf of farmers for these competitive grants. The application and additional information are available on the Department’s website at https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities. Project proposals are due at 5:00 p.m. on June 24, 2024.

 

State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said, “Visiting Providence Farm Collective today, especially during Earth Week, helps us to shine the spotlight on our farms who are using best practices to ensure environmental sustainability and combat the effects of climate change.  With more than $60 million dedicated to the CRF program since its’ launch, we are seeing our farms, along with our Soil and Water Conservation Districts, implement a variety of projects that are addressing greenhouse gas emission reductions, carbon sequestration, and helping on-farm resiliency to extreme weather. Farm by farm, we are seeing significant progress in our collective goals to combat climate change, while also supporting our producers to remain competitive, profitable, and sustainable.”

 

Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “New York’s farmers are critically important stewards of our shared environment and are valuable partners in promoting resiliency and addressing climate change through land conservation, water quality improvements, and cutting-edge best practices. Thanks to the Governor’s continued record support of the Environmental Protection Fund, DEC and our agency partners like the Department of Agriculture and Markets are providing significant resources to mitigate and adapt to our changing climate’s impacts on agriculture and across our economy.”

 

New York State Soil and Water Committee Chair Dale Stein said, “The record level of funding being offered through the Climate Resilient Farming grant program this year is an exciting opportunity for our farmers and Soil and Water Districts, who are committed to improving soil health and protecting our waterways as part of our agriculture’s shared goals to combat climate change. The hundreds of projects completed across the State so far —from cover cropping and irrigation systems to manure storage covers—are not only benefiting our environment but also helping our producers to better prepare for and recover from the increasing number of extreme weather events are facing as a result of climate change.  We saw a great example of this today at Providence Farm Collective, and hope to keep this momentum moving forward across the state.”

 

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “New York farmers are on the frontlines of the Climate Crisis and need our continued support to scale the most effective methods for environmental stewardship and resilience against severe weather so we can continue to have a local food supply. The Climate Resilient Farming Grant program is instrumental in this effort, helping farmers across the state build soil health and protect our air and water. We’re especially excited about a new funding track for Agricultural Forest Management, which I was proud to push for along with increased support for climate-forward agricultural programs through the EPF this year.”

 

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “Agricultural stewardship programs like Climate Resilient Farming are vital to protecting NY’s natural resources through planning and promoting best practices. They help farmers develop unique on-farm solutions to combat the climate crisis and its effect on their farm operations. I am especially pleased that our Soil and Water Conservation Districts received an increase in funding to assist with their important work at the county level. A special thank you to NY’s farmers who have continued to demonstrate their commitment to protecting our natural resources.”

 

Providence Farm Collective President and Executive Director Kristin Heltman-Weiss said, “Today as we celebrate Earth Week, Providence Farm Collective farmers and Commissioner Richard Ball are shining a light on the need for environmental sustainability and resiliency in agriculture and food systems, while also uplifting the need for farms to be economically viable. Through several climate resiliency farming grants received by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Erie County Soil and Water Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, and the United States Department of Agriculture, PFC farmers have tools for managing the effects of climate change that include implementing best practices for irrigation and water management, nurturing healthy soils through cover cropping, crop rotation, onsite composting, access to no-till equipment, and minimizing tillage, installing low tunnels and high tunnels, and protecting our farmland forever through a conservation easement. In our values, mission and vision, we are committed to a holistic sustainability model that empowers and provides equitably for people, honors and cares for the health of the planet, embodies the purpose and values of the organization, and balances all of those with the need for financial viability.”

 

The State’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, through the EPF, included several agricultural initiatives, including funding for Cornell Soil Health, a $1.25 million increase for the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and continued funding for the CRF program along with the establishment of new initiatives such as the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition, which will direct key investments into the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to support agricultural and resiliency-related projects on farms. This will also include support for farmers to invest in more cover crops, improve culverts to reduce runoff, and other investments to improve soil health and reduce water quality impairments in the region.

 

About NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, in coordination with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, administers the Climate Resilient Farming Program through its Land and Water Division, which works to protect New York’s land and water resources through farmland protection, farmland conservation, and proactive environmental stewardship. The Climate Resilient Farming Program functions as part of the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems. County Soil and Water Conservation Districts use the AEM framework to assist interested farmers through planning and implementation to make science-based and cost-effective decisions. As a result, farmers can meet business goals while conserving the state’s natural resources.

 

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For more press on the topic, go here: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/04/biden-announces-first-tranche-climate-corps-jobs-hopes-segueing-thousands-federal-service/395960/?oref=govexec_news_alert_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GovExec%20Alert:%20April%2022%2C%202024&utm_term=newsletter_ge_alert