Table of Contents

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Chapter I. Introduction

Key Recommendations

Chapter II. The Stakeholders in Farm Policy

A. Farmers and the Farm Economy

1.

2. Overstatements in USDA Census of Agriculture Data

3. A More Accurate Assessment of Farm Income and Wealth

4. The Legacy of Discriminatory Agricultural Policy

B. New Constituencies

1. Farms in the Rural Economy

2. Non-White Farmers

3. Rural Communities

4. The Opportunity for Carbon Farming

Key Recommendations

Chapter III. The Climate Crisis and Agriculture

A. Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture

B. Agriculture’s Contribution to Climate Change

1. Global Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2. U.S. Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions

3. State-Level Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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C. Underestimates and Uncertainties

1. Underestimates

2. Uncertainties

D. Agriculture’s Dual Opportunity

Key Recommendations

Chapter IV. Climate-Friendly Agricultural Systems and Practices

A. Agricultural Systems and Practices for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

1. Cropland

2. Grazing Land

3. Animal Feeding Operations

4. On-Farm Fuel Combustion and Electricity

B. Agriculture’s Maximum Contribution to Curbing Climate Change

Key Recommendations

Chapter V. Transforming Farm Policy Toward Climate-Neutral Agriculture

A. Research, Extension, and Technical Assistance Programs

1. Federal Research Programs

2. Public-Private Research Programs

3. State Research and Demonstration Programs

4. Data Collection and Analysis

5. Extension Service

6. Technical Assistance

7. Improving Coordination Among Research, Extension, and Technical Assistance Programs

B. Public Subsidy and Conservation Programs

1. Crop Insurance

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2.

3. The Commodity Credit Corporation

4. Conservation Payments

5. Conservation Easements

6. Conservation Compliance Requirements

7. Lending Programs

8. Trade Policy

9. Transforming the Farm Safety Net Through Legislative Action

C. Grazing Practices on Government Land

D. Perennial Agriculture

1. Land Tenure

2. Research, Development, and Extension

3. Input, Distribution, and Marketing Infrastructure

4. Farm Finance and Support

5. Coordinating Efforts

E. Toward Climate-Neutral Agriculture

Key Recommendations

Chapter VI. Public Policy Pathways Beyond USDA for Advancing Climate-Neutral Agriculture

A. Regulatory Options

B. Tax Policy

C. Small Business Administration Lending Programs

D. Biogas Subsidies

E. Greenhouse Gas Pricing

Key Recommendations

Chapter VII. Private- and Nonprofit-Sector Opportunities for Advancing Climate-Neutral Agriculture

A. Research

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B. Financing Options

C. Easements and Other Conservation Tools

D. Carbon Measurement Tools

E. Carbon Markets

Key Recommendations

Chapter VIII. Off-Farm Food System Emission Reduction Opportunities

A. Upstream: Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Farm Inputs

1. Emissions From Fertilizer Production

2. Fuel Economy Standards for Agricultural Equipment and Reduction of On-Farm Energy Use

B. Downstream: Emissions From Food Processing, Packaging, Marketing, and Waste

1. Processing, Packaging, Distribution, and Marketing Emissions

2. Landfill Waste Emissions

Key Recommendations

Chapter IX. Changing Consumption Patterns

A. Dietary Guidelines

B. Federal Procurement and Food Assistance

C. Private-Sector Strategies

1. Certification Systems and Supply Chain Commitments

2. Plant-Forward Alternatives

Key Recommendations

Chapter X. Conclusion

Index