PA to receive $900M in federal funds for climate-smart ag projects

Pennsylvania will receive more than $900 million for 19 projects to create new revenue streams and support farmers using climate-smart practices, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday.

Nineteen projects were part of 70 selected nationwide, accounting for more than $2.8 billion being invested in the first two rounds of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding.

“Agriculture bears the brunt of the impact of climate change, from extreme weather to an environment that is more inviting to invasive pests, plants and disease,” Wolf said. “My administration has provided unprecedented support for the industry that feeds and sustains us – as seen through the PA Farm Bill and Clean Streams Fund – and I am pleased that our efforts will be multiplied exponentially with federal support. Farmers cannot tackle climate change alone.”

The initial projects will expand markets for climate-smart commodities, leverage the benefits of climate-smart commodity production and provide direct benefits to production agriculture, including small and underserved producers. Projects funded include $35 million for Wolfe’s Neck Farm Foundation Inc., $25 million for the Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools, $90 million for Truterra LLC, and $60 million for The Nature Conservancy, among others.

Funding will provide technical and financial assistance for putting climate-smart practices in place; developing innovative and cost-effective methods for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas benefits, and developing markets for the commodities grown using climate-smart practices.

Pennsylvania-based partners in funded projects include Cargill, Hershey Foods, Land O’Lakes, Danone North America, Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, Rodale Institute, Pennsylvania State University, PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Stroud Water Research Center, TeamAg, and Red Barn Consulting.