Agri-Pulse reports:
A major environmental group with ties to the Biden administration is calling for changes in federal farm programs to promote the use of “regenerative” agriculture practices such as cover crops.
In a 61-page report being released today, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) outlined a long list of proposals, including changes to the federal crop insurance program.
To view the report click here.
NRDC says, for example, that farmers should get a higher premium subsidy or lower premium rate for practices that improve soil health. The quickest way to do that would be to expand and extend the $5-an-acre cover crop subsidies that the Biden administration initiated last year and continued in 2022, NRDC says.
The report also says farmers should no longer be allowed to exclude some bad years from their yield histories, a move that would reduce those growers’ coverage.
The report also calls for increased funding of conservation programs.
