A new program is being launched to encourage climate-smart grazing practices among Native American beef producers. This program provides compensation and technical support to participants.
The Farm Journal Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for global food security, is offering Native American beef producers technical assistance, education, and direct payments for implementing climate-smart practices. Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Climate-smart practices that participants can implement include rotational grazing, planting native grasses, and brush management. Producers who take part in the program can receive around $10,000 in compensation for adopting these practices. They also have access to in-person education, online technical assistance, and other valuable resources.
The Farm Journal Foundation is looking for 70 to 100 Indigenous producers in Montana, Florida, and Oklahoma to join the program. These locations were chosen due to their varied climates.
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Maddie Skellie, program manager at Farm Journal Foundation, noted that Native American producers often face obstacles when trying to access federal grant opportunities. Their farming operations may not align with standard criteria set by policymakers, and federal programs may not have prioritized tribal concerns in the past.
This program aims to improve access for Native American producers by incentivizing their participation and helping them monetize their practices.
Other partners involved in the project include the Intertribal Agriculture Council, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, and Yield Lab Institute.
To get involved in the program, individuals can fill out a survey on FarmJournalFoundation.org. For more information, they can visit FarmJournalFoundation.org/tribal-agriculture.
