Congress’ expressed purpose for supporting agricultural research and extension is not only to increase the productivity of agriculture,7 but also to “[maintain and enhance] the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend.”8

Many existing USDA programs already focus on conservation, through which the department has significant leeway to increase funding for climate-friendly practices. Doing so, whether through congressional or agency action, will be needed to decarbonize agriculture.

State governments and land-grant institutions should also provide funding for research on climate-friendly practices, particularly in the absence of strong federal research support.

Congress should couple increased financial support for climate-related agricultural research with generous funding to disseminate climate-friendly practices and research. By creating a nationwide network of climate extension professionals, while significantly increasing funding for climate-related outreach, education, and technical assistance, Congress can provide carbon farming with the support it needs to rapidly expand.

More on the topic Congress’ expressed purpose for supporting agricultural research and extension is not only to increase the productivity of agriculture,7 but also to “[maintain and enhance] the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend.”8:

1. Conventional agriculture in the United States relies heavily on fossil fuels.
2. During his inaugural address as the fortieth president of the United States of America in January 1980, Ronald Reagan spoke of the ‘economic ills we [Americans] suffer that have come upon us over several decades’
3. A variety of federal, state, and local agencies outside of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support or regulate agricultural production.
4. 2. Research, Development, and Extension
5. 7. Improving Coordination Among Research, Extension, and Technical Assistance Programs
6. A Brief History of Meat in the United States
7. A. Research, Extension, and Technical Assistance Programs
8. 3. State-Level Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions
9. 2. U.S. Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions
10. 1. Global Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions
11. Roman law in the United States
12. This chapter begins by describing how the climate crisis threatens to disrupt agricultural production at immense cost to society.