Notice2021-21368
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentCommodity Credit Corporation
Abstract
As part of our (USDA) broader efforts on climate change, we are requesting information (comments) from the public on a Climate- Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program. In response to the Executive Order titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, we published a Federal Register notice on March 16, 2021, to request comments on a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) strategy. Based on public comments received and our ongoing stakeholder engagement activities, we published a progress report in May 2021 on the CSAF strategy. As one element of the CSAF strategy, we are considering actions to expand the use of climate-smart farming practices and aid in the marketing of agricultural commodities. The term "climate-smart commodity" is used to refer to an agricultural commodity that is produced using farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequester carbon. This requested information is intended to help test development of a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program that could encourage adoption of CSAF practices and promote markets for climate-smart commodities. The Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program could be developed under the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act of 1933. This document requests comments on priorities and program design of the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program that would facilitate the expansion of markets for agricultural commodities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54149-54152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21368]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
[Docket ID: USDA-2021-0010]
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, Farm Production and Conservation
Mission Area, Office of Chief Economist, and Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: As part of our (USDA) broader efforts on climate change, we
are requesting information (comments) from the public on a Climate-
Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program. In response to the
Executive Order titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,
we published a Federal Register notice on March 16, 2021, to request
comments on a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) strategy.
Based on public comments received and our ongoing stakeholder
engagement activities, we published a progress report in May 2021 on
the CSAF strategy. As one element of the CSAF strategy, we are
considering actions to expand the use of climate-smart farming
practices and aid in the marketing of agricultural commodities. The
term ``climate-smart commodity'' is used to refer to an agricultural
commodity that is produced using farming practices that reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or
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sequester carbon. This requested information is intended to help test
development of a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership
Program that could encourage adoption of CSAF practices and promote
markets for climate-smart commodities. The Climate-Smart Agriculture
and Forestry Partnership Program could be developed under the authority
of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act of 1933. This document
requests comments on priorities and program design of the Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program that would facilitate the
expansion of markets for agricultural commodities.
DATES: We will consider comments received on or before 11:59 p.m. (ET)
on November 1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may
submit comments by going to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and searching
for Docket ID: USDA-2021-0010. Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments.
Instructions for submitting comments are provided in the Written
Comments section below.
Comments will be available for inspection online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
If you have questions, email them to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#690a0a1906060a0c291c1a0d08470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4d7d7c4dbdbd7d1f4c1c7d0d59ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In response to Executive Order 14008, dated January 27, 2021, and
titled, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, we published a
Federal Register notice on March 16, 2021 (86 FR 14403-14404), to
request comments on a CSAF strategy. Based on public comments received
and our ongoing stakeholder engagement activities, we published a
progress report on the CSAF strategy.\1\ As one element of this
strategy, we are considering actions to expand the use of climate-smart
farming practices and aid in the marketing of agricultural commodities.
The term ``climate-smart commodity'' is used to refer to an
agricultural commodity that is produced using farming practices that
reduce GHG emissions or sequester carbon.
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\1\ The progress report is available at the following link:
<a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-ag-forestry-strategy-90-day-progress-report.pdf">https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-ag-forestry-strategy-90-day-progress-report.pdf</a>.
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We will use the public comments to inform the possible development
of a USDA Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program,
which could encourage adoption of CSAF practices and promote markets
for climate-smart commodities. Through this request for information, we
are requesting suggestions for priorities within the Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program. The Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program could be developed under
the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act of 1933
(15 U.S.C. 714 Section 5(e).
The public comments will provide valuable information to USDA, as
well as the private sector and other stakeholders with interest in and
expertise relating to the expansion of opportunities for CSAF
practices, as well as markets for climate-smart commodities.
New markets for climate-smart commodities provide an opportunity
and a challenge for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.
Domestic and international consumers are demonstrating a preference for
agricultural commodities produced using CSAF practices, creating new
market opportunities for producers. Markets for climate-smart
commodities include sustainable supply chain initiatives and internal
corporate commitments where companies are pledging to reduce emissions
within their own supply chains and production facilities. Opportunities
also include markets for low-carbon biofuels and renewable energy.
Agricultural producers and landowners also have opportunities to market
GHG reductions generated as a part of climate-smart commodity
production.
Despite the opportunity for new or expanded markets for climate-
smart commodities described above, there are barriers that have
prevented these markets from reaching scale. The barriers include:
<bullet> The lack of standard definitions of climate-smart
commodities;
<bullet> Lack of clear standards for measurement of climate
benefits of CSAF practices;
<bullet> Potential for double-counting benefits;
<bullet> High transaction costs;
<bullet> Limited ability for small producer participation;
<bullet> Lack of efficient supply chain traceability; and
<bullet> High risk of market entry.
We are exploring options to reduce and remove barriers currently
limiting the development of new market opportunities for CSAF practices
and climate-smart commodities. USDA is requesting comments on options
for promoting CSAF, including systems for quantification, options, and
criteria for proposal evaluation, use of information collected,
potential protocols, and options for review and verification.
Additionally, we are requesting comments on how U.S. Government action
might encourage CSAF practices by leveraging private-sector demand and
providing new income streams for farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners.
We are requesting comments from the public, including, but not
limited to, comments from:
1. Farmers and farmer organizations;
2. Commodity groups;
3. Livestock producer groups;
4. Environmental organizations;
5. Agriculture businesses and technology companies;
6. Environmental market organizations;
7. Renewable energy organizations;
8. Tribal organizations and governments;
9. Organizations representing historically underrepresented
producers;
10. Organizations representing historically underrepresented
communities, local producers, and micro-producers;
11. Forest landowners and forest landowner organizations; and
12. Private corporations.
Written Comments
Written comments should not exceed 10 pages, inclusive of a 1-page
cover page as described below. Attachments or linked resources or
documents are not included in the 10-page limit. Please write
concisely, in plain language, and in narrative format. You may respond
to some or all of the questions listed in this document. Please note
the question to which you are responding in your comment. You may also
include links to online material or interactive presentations but
please ensure all links are publicly available. Each comment should
include:
<bullet> The name of the individual(s) and organization submitting
the comment.
<bullet> The question(s) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7) that your comment
supports.
<bullet> A brief description of the commenter's (individual(s) or
organization's) mission or areas of expertise, including any public-
private partnerships with Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local
governments within the past 3 years that are relevant to this document;
and
<bullet> A contact for questions or other follow-up on your
comment.
By commenting in response to this document, each participant
(individual, team, or legal entity) warrants that they are the sole
author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works
that are included in the comment,
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that the works are wholly original (or is an improved version of an
existing work that the participant has sufficient rights to use and
improve), and that the comment does not infringe any copyright or any
other rights of any third party of which the participant is aware.
Participants will not be required to transfer their intellectual
property rights to USDA, but by providing the comment, the
participant(s) grants to the Federal government a nonexclusive license
to apply, share, and use the materials that are included in the
comment. By providing the comment to the Federal government, each
participant must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing
the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of participant's rights to
the Federal government.
Interested parties who comment in response to this document may be
contacted for a follow-up strategic agency assessment dialogue,
discussion, event, crowdsource campaign, or competition.
Questions
We are requesting comments relating to the following questions:
1. How would existing private sector and state compliance markets
for carbon offsets be impacted from this potential federal program?
2. In order to expand markets, what should the scope of the
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program be,
including in terms of geography, scale, project focus, and project
activities supported?
3. In order to expand markets, what types of CSAF project
activities should be eligible for funding through the Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program? Projects should promote
the production of climate-smart commodities and support adoption of
CSAF practices. Examples may include:
a. Activities that develop standardized supply chain accounting for
carbon-friendly products; activities that provide supply chain
traceability; innovative financing for low-carbon fuel from
agricultural feedstocks; or green labeling efforts, among others;
b. Activities that supply grants, loans, and loan guarantees to
producers for equipment needed to implement CSAF practices, or for
capital-intensive CSAF technologies;
c. Activities that test and evaluate standardized protocols that
define eligible CSAF practices, quantification methodologies, and
verification requirements, with an emphasis on minimizing transaction
costs and operating at scale;
d. Activities that evaluate options for tracking climate-smart
commodities, including book-and-claim systems and systems to record and
register the GHG benefits generated through CSAF practices;
e. Activities that generate voluntary carbon offsets through CSAF
practices. Within carbon offset markets, the GHG benefit is separated
from the commodity and sold as a carbon offset credit. Should the USDA
consider hybrid approaches where the GHG benefit could be assigned to a
climate-smart commodity, or separated and sold as a voluntary carbon
offset?
4. In order to expand markets, what entities should be eligible to
apply for funding through the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
Partnership Program? Given that the administrative costs of the
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program could be
high if USDA were to contract with individual producers or landowners,
it makes more sense to work with groups of producers and landowners.
For example, eligible entities may include an agricultural producer
association or other group of producers; State, Tribe, or unit of local
government; a farmer cooperative; a carbon offset project developer; an
organization or entity with an established history of working
cooperatively with producers on agricultural land, as determined by
USDA (for example, a non-governmental organization); a conservation
district; and an institution of higher education, including cooperative
extension;
5. In order to expand markets, what criteria should be used to
evaluate project proposals for receiving funding through the Climate-
Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program?
a. For example, potential criteria may include estimated GHG or
carbon sequestration benefits; estimated costs; potential for
addressing identified barriers for producers; ability to benefit
underserved producers and early adopters; environmental justice
benefits; and demonstrated capability to ensure success.
b. Should USDA establish a consistent payment per ton of GHG
generated through these partnership projects as part of the project
payment structure, or evaluate a range of incentive options?
6. In order to expand markets, which CSAF practices should be
eligible for inclusion?
a. What systems for quantification and key metrics should be used
to assess the benefits of projects funded through the Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program?
b. What should the quantification, monitoring, reporting, and
verification requirements for projects funded through the Climate-Smart
Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program be?
c. What types of systems should be used or supported to track
participation, implementation, and potential benefits generated?
d. What types of data and metrics should be collected and reported
to determine project success and GHG benefits delivered? How should the
data and metrics be analyzed to inform future decisions?
7. How should ownership of potential GHG benefits that may be
generated be managed?
8. How can USDA ensure that partnership projects are equitable and
strive to include a wide range of landowners and producers?
a. How can the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership
Program include early adopters of CSAF practices?
b. How can the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership
Program be designed to ensure that benefits flow to historically
underserved producers?
c. How can the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership
Program be designed to ensure that benefits flow to historically
underserved communities?
d. How can the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership
Program be designed to ensure that benefits are provided to producers?
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible agency or USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 or 844-433-
2774 (toll-free nationwide). Additionally, program information may
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be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA, and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#541b151714212730357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d323c3e3d080e191c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Robert Ibarra,
Commodity Credit Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2021-21368 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-GL-P
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