Farmers in North Dakota and across the U.S. have been encouraged to adopt climate-friendly practices. The federal government is adding financial support for such work, and there is hope it will open the door to approaches described as more feasible for producers.

This month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $1 billion investment, encouraging farmers and landowners to implement tools such as cover crops and nutrient management. New components include measuring effectiveness and creating incentive markets.

Aliza Wasserman-Drewes, executive director of the group Rural Investment to Protect our Environment (RIPE), said it might spur more activity.

"The existing set of climate-smart program ideas that exist in the D.C./status quo ether is really a cost-share model," Wasserman-Drewes pointed out. "That is not a way that will really work for farmers to scale up their adoption of these practices."

RIPE and organizations such as the North Dakota Farmers Union are pushing for a model to pay farmers a minimum of $100 an acre for stewardship practices. Meanwhile, the USDA is accepting applications for pilot projects. Public and private entities from small businesses to tribal governments to colleges can apply.

Wasserman-Drewes feels there are a lot of producers who want to change how they grow their crops, so they can improve soil health and protect surrounding waterways. But she noted existing programs and markets can leave them wondering if they should take on the risk.

"And the core concern is always, 'Do I invest in my business or do I invest in something that is maybe good for the long term, but I don't have the new-term funding to do so,' " Wasserman-Drewes observed.

Other supporters of the new federal initiative argued it leans on the idea of collective efforts, rather than individual farmers seeking reimbursing through long-standing cost-share programs. The USDA said it hopes to reach historically underrepresented communities through the initiative.

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.