May 23, 2023 | Boise State Public Radio News |
The University of Idaho has received its largest grant ever, amounting to $55 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to promote "climate-smart agriculture" in Idaho. Over the five-year pilot period, more than half of the funds will be given directly to farmers as incentives for implementing techniques that improve soil health and store carbon. The remaining funds will be allocated to data collection and reporting. The grant is part of the USDA's $3.1 billion "Climate-Smart Commodities" initiative, which aims to address greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector. The University of Idaho project will provide financial incentives and technical assistance to 144 farms across the state, supporting the adoption of practices like special crop rotations, cover crops, rotational grazing, and no-till planting. The initiative seeks to help farmers overcome barriers and see the environmental and financial benefits of these practices. The project will also focus on measuring emissions and collecting data to better understand the impact of climate-smart agriculture on greenhouse gas reduction.