DEC, in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM), Cornell University, SUNY ESF, and Syracuse University was awarded $60 million in fall 2023 to implement climate smart agriculture and forestry practices. $37.7 million will directly support farmers and private forest landowners in implementing climate smart practices on more than 20,000 acres across the state. Additional funds will be used for monitoring, measuring, reporting, and the verification (MMRV) of climate mitigation benefits and expanding markets for climate smart commodities. Funds were awarded from the USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant.
This project includes:
- $13 million to expand DEC's Regenerate NY Cost Share Grant Program, which supports practices on private lands that enhance carbon uptake by planting trees, implementing forest restoration, controlling competing vegetation, and deterring deer browse. Through expansion of the Regenerate NY program, DEC plans to implement climate smart forestry practices on more than 10,000 acres of private forestland over the next 5 years.
- $24.7 million to AGM to:
- Expand the Climate Resilient Farming Program, which supports farms in lowering their greenhouse gas emissions through management, agroforestry, silvopasture, urban agriculture, and soil health practices. Through expansion of the grant, AGM plans to implement climate smart agriculture practices on more than 10,000 acres of farmland over the next 5 years.
- Develop pilot projects for methane monitoring and reporting.
- $10.5 million to Cornell University to:
- Improve MMRV of agricultural practices;
- Expand methodology for measuring forest carbon through portable LIDAR scanning;
- Conduct outreach to engage underserved farms and farmers; and
- Support and educate landowners and professionals on silvopasture.
- $5.9 million to SUNY ESF to:
- Conduct MMRV of forestry practices;
- Identify and address the barriers of forest practice implementation;
- Partner with Michigan State University's Forest Carbon and Climate Program to create education and outreach materials on climate smart forest management and;
- Support internship opportunities for students from underrepresented groups on large natural resources projects and leadership training.
- $5.9 million to the Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University to create and expand markets for climate-smart commodities spanning sustainably produced forest products, agricultural field crops, industrial crops, and agricultural wastes. The focus is to integrate climate smart commodities for a variety of commercial purposes including building material, low carbon fuels such as sustainable aviation fuels, cellulosic packaging, and low carbon dairy products. This part of the project will:
- Create partnerships to raise awareness, promote, and track the demand for climate smart commodities;
- Identify and address supply chain, processing, and financial insurance barriers that are preventing the development and use of climate smart commodities;
- Develop a web portal to connect producers, manufacturers, brands and key service providers; and
- Model and communicate the economic value of and jobs created by utilizing climate smart agriculture commodities.
