RICHMOND, Va. -- In central Virginia, permanent access to land is one of the biggest barriers to farming. A new land-trust model aims to secure both rural farmlands for affordable housing and agricultural practice for new farmers, while also acquiring land in urban centers to foster economic growth.

With support from the nonprofit Agrarian Trust and the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust in Richmond, the Central Virginia Agrarian Commons will focus on redistributing access to land to communities of color who've been historically denied land-owning opportunities.

Duron Chavis, board member of the Central Virginia Agrarian Commons and an activist from Richmond, said the model can begin to address racial inequity in the state.

"Who has the decision-making power over land?" Chavis asked. "Black and brown people are usually on the wrong side of that disparity. For an organization to step in and say, 'Hey, we're going to raise money to ensure that communities that have been historically marginalized are able to activate strategies for self-determination on land' is very important."

Davis noted the Commons is in the process of acquiring about 100 acres being donated in Amelia County, which will serve as the rural farming operation of the Commons. The organization also launched a website this month and is working on fundraising for the rezoning process to turn the land into a working farm.

The Commons is also attempting to acquire land and commercial property in Richmond to distribute the agricultural products produced on the rural farmland.

Chavis pointed out people in Richmond aspire to farm but face challenges such as soil health from contaminants. He contended the Commons could change that.

"It has the potential to create inroads for marginalized communities," Chavis explained. "Where they can not only grow, but they also have access to commercial property, where they'll be able to move into a space where the scale of produce that can be developed in the rural area can be brought into the city."

Other Agrarian Commons farms have already been established throughout the country, including in West Virginia, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Greenhouse gas emissions have been potentially reduced by 50,000 tons in the state, with the help of Wisconsin farmers supported by a statewide coalition.

Farmers for Sustainable Food has released its first progress report, which summarizes efforts and data from last year. The coalition consists of six farmer-led conservation groups across Wisconsin and works with 231 farmers.

The report also showed participating farmers reduced more than 330,000 pounds of phosphorus from leaving their fields.

Lauren Brey, managing director of Farmers for Sustainable Food, said while there are popular practices, such as cover crops, there's a desire to experiment as well.

"That might be different methods of manure application and incorporation into the land," Brey suggested. "How do we try different mixes of cover crops?"

Despite increased awareness of climate-friendly practices in agriculture, supporters acknowledge there is still work to do in convincing farmers who are concerned about their bottom line. Wisconsin's Farmland Preservation Program noted it saw participation decline by 24% between 2010 and 2017.

Brey pointed out if partners boost engagement efforts, it could entice more farmers to embrace the conservation movement.

"Trying to model what impact those practices are having on different sustainability metrics," Brey advised. "Carbon or greenhouse gas emissions or water quality. And we're taking that a step further in our sustainability projects even with an addition of a financial analysis component."

Farmers who responded to a 2018 landowner survey cited a burdensome application process, as well as limited tax credits for not signing a farmland agreement.

Agriculture researchers say if the U.S. wants more farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices, they will need to be offered some proven incentives, and a new grant puts Iowa in the driver's seat to try and find them.

An $80 million federal grant has been awarded to Iowa State University and several partners to help farmers invest in planting cover crops and perennial prairie grass. Project officials say it can then be processed into renewable natural gas.

John Crespi, director of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development at Iowa State, said in trying to develop more markets for farmers, the effort needs to be expanded for evaluation.

"Those are questions that are harder to answer on a university research farm," Crespi observed. "The idea behind these larger grants is, 'OK, well let's partner with businesses and partner with farmers, and see if we can provide incentives, get them to try things and find out what works.'"

The grant is part of a nearly $3 billion investment announced this month by the Biden administration for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. While certain practices have caught on, agriculture leaders said there are still barriers to getting more producers to fully embrace climate-minded farming, including overcoming the initial costs.

Crespi stressed most farmers want to make their land more resilient and help the environment, but it's hard for them to look past their bottom line in a job which comes with a lot of risk. His team wants to tackle the dilemma head-on.

"This project is going to be a lot to figure out," Crespi pointed out. "How do we bring costs down, or how do we make this so that there is an income there?"

Roeslein Alternative Energy, one of the partners in the project, estimated fanning out the specific approach nationwide could generate $70 billion in new annual revenue and sequester 250 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Agriculture accounts for nearly 11% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the U.S.

Managed grazing is one of several ways farmers can implement climate-friendly practices, and after a lengthy absence, a key source of federal aid has been restored.

Late this summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $12 million to be shared by groups providing technical assistance for farmers considering managed grazing.

Laura Paine, outreach coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Madison-based project Grassland 2.0, said managed grazing primarily relies on pasture forage for livestock.

"It works because it reduces your costs, because the animals are going out and harvesting their own feed and spreading their own manure," Paine explained. "It's very adaptable, and you can use it as much or as little as fits with your system."

Experts pointed out it also protects water quality, improves soil health, and provides good habitat for pollinators and wildlife. The application deadline for funds is Sept. 22. Eligible groups include farm organizations, conservation agencies and tribal governments. Program funding was cut more than a decade ago. Even though it has been restored, the amount is far less than what supporters requested.

Paine emphasized the funding level should serve as a reminder for anyone interested to apply as soon as possible. She noted there will be national competition for the funds, and hopes the process inspires innovation.

"As we shift from generation to generation, we need to always be thinking of, you know, adding some new approaches to reaching audiences, and the farmer population has changed," Paine stressed.

She added there are younger producers coming on board who did not inherit a family operation. Paine, who is also a farmer, used to manage the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative in Wisconsin, and knows the program's effectiveness firsthand.

"Wisconsin has historically had this great combination of state agencies, and educational institutions and nonprofits, working together to provide this combination of technical assistance and education," Paine stated.

The Agriculture Department said project proposals for cooperative agreements should identify and address barriers to getting grazing assistance, to reach more historically underserved producers. Wisconsin's Michael Fields Agricultural Institute led a broad coalition in urging Congress to bring back the program funding.