Podcasts about healthy soils program

In this episode of the AgNet News Hour, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Lorrie Boyer discuss the recent mysterious drone sightings primarily on the East Coast and their potential implications for privacy and the agriculture industry. They delve into the unrest these sightings are causing among residents, the inquiries being made by the FBI, and the calls for stricter regulations. The discussion also touches on the impact drones have on airports, Air Force bases, and air traffic. Despite these concerns, the hosts acknowledge the beneficial applications of drones in agriculture, such as crop monitoring and livestock management. They consider the potential future need for airspace rights above private properties and the risks associated with unregulated drone usage.   Lorrie talks with Renata Brillinger, Executive Director of the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN), who discussed the Cows Act, a marker bill aimed at replicating a successful California program that reduces methane emissions from dairy farms by converting manure into compost. The program, which provides grants for equipment like augers and compost turners, has seen three times more demand than funding. Brillinger emphasized the economic benefits, including water and labor savings, but noted the high capital costs (up to $700,000) that hinder smaller producers. She also highlighted other underfunded programs like the Healthy Soils Program and On-Farm Water Conservation Program, which reduce greenhouse gases and water use, respectively. Sabrina has this week's Almond Update.  Gabriele Ludwig, Director for Environmental Affairs with the Almond Board of California, discusses insights from a session on post-harvest pest control for almonds. Key highlights include integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, monitoring tools for pest detection in stockpiles, and the importance of fumigation. Experts such as Eric Myers, Dr. Zhongli Pan, and Dr. Spencer Walse contribute their knowledge on minimizing pests in storage facilities and ensuring phytosanitary requirements are met. The discussion also emphasizes the role of growers in managing pests in the field to reduce infestations in post-harvest scenarios.

Get the latest agriculture news in today's AgNet News Hour, hosted by Sabrina Halvorson. The deadline for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program is approaching and proposals for new conservation practices for CDFA's Healthy Soils Program are being sought. Tune in for these news stories, interviews, features, and more.  

What is Carbon Farming?Carbon farming refers to a wide range of agricultural practices that increase carbon sequestration in soil, vegetation, and forests. Conventional agricultural practices often release carbon, but traditional farming practices, permaculture, agroecology, regenerative, and organic farming practices can instead create carbon sinks. As plants photosynthesize, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon above ground and below ground (in roots) as biomass throughout their lifetime. Dead organic matter can store carbon in the soil for several decades. Carbon farming practices also sequester other potent greenhouse gasses such as methane and nitrous oxide which further helps mitigate climate change. Examples of carbon farming practices include using mulch, compost, and perennial crops in agricultural fields. As California ramps up its composting in response to goals set by 2016's food waste bill SB-1383, using compost on farmland could have even more benefits. In addition to potentially increasing the carbon sequestered in soils, diverting compost to agriculture would also put all the extra compost to use. But many farmers are wary of using the new compost on their land, UC Staff Researcher Cole Smith told Civil Eats in 2022. Climate Break guest Ian Howell says building collaborative and voluntary carbon farming plans with farmers and ranchers can help overcome their hesitation.Carbon farming goes beyond compost, and can encompass a variety of practices, many of which also offer water quality and productivity benefits. Returning leftover biomass after harvest to the soil instead of burning or disposing of the material also increases carbon sequestration. Replacing traditional tillage practices with conservation tillage or no-till farming can help reduce soil erosion. Planting cover crops in the off-season instead of leaving crop lands bare, and rotating crops and growing diverse crop rotations instead of monocultures all support soil health and carbon sequestration. Carbon Farming in CaliforniaThe U.S. EPA reports that the agriculture sector accounts for 11% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and land use and forestry account for 13%. In California the Healthy Soils Program pays farmers and ranchers to adopt policies that better sequester carbon, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative began in 2017 and is funded by California Climate Investments (CCI) cap and trade program. The Healthy Soils Program has received $40.5 million from CCI which has helped fund over 600 projects across the state. Many Resource Conservation Districts – like the Alameda County Resource Conservation District – also offer carbon farming programs, working with farmers and offering grants for more sustainable land management practices. Future of Carbon Farming: Despite increased research and funding to support carbon farming, implementing these practices on a global scale still faces roadblocks. However, countries across the world have shown support for carbon farming as at the 2015 Paris Agreement 100 nations signed the French “4 per mille” initiative. The “4 per mille” initiative calls for a 0.4% increase each year in carbon soil sequestration, which will stop annual increases of carbon into the atmosphere. In September, 2022 California passed AB 1757 (Garcia and Rivera) which requires state agencies to set targets for natural carbon sequestration and emission reduction on natural and working lands by 2024. AB 1757 therefore supports California's carbon neutrality goals and can boost carbon removal through natural climate solutions like carbon farming.Ian Howell has supported voluntary restoration and enhancement projects at the Alameda County Resource Conservation District for over five years as a resource conservationist. He has managed several grant-funded programs including Alameda Creek Healthy Watersheds, Rangeland Resilience, and Carbon Farming. Ian also coordinates the Alameda Creek Watershed Forum and collaborates with public agency partners and private agricultural producers on land management topics. He received a master's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012.Sources:Alameda County Resource Conservation District: Carbon Farming FactsheetEPA: Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Agriculture.Bill Text: AB-1757 California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: climate goal: natural and working landsThe Climate Center: AB-1757 ExplainerCA Department of Food and Agriculture: Healthy Soils ProgramEPA: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and SinksPNAS: Soil carbon sequestration is an elusive climate mitigation toolUC Davis: Biological Carbon Sequestration. Green America: What is Carbon Farming? 

Agriculture is a sector that needs to be transformed. We need to cut emissions, improve soil health, and sequester more carbon, all while feeding more people. This episode focuses on how California's Department of Food and Agriculture is investing in this change. Why California? Well, agriculture in the Golden State is a big deal. It's a $51 billion-a-year industry, that grows over a third of the vegetables and three-quarters of the fruits and nuts in the United States. California is a recognized leader when it comes to climate action, and there's much to learn from its agriculture policy and practices. So I was delighted to sit down with California's Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross. Secretary Ross has decades of experience in agriculture and ag policy and is deeply committed to climate action. We talked about everything from dairy digesters and regenerative ag practices to the role California ag innovation plays nationally and globally, and much more. If you're interested in how the food system is changing to address climate change, there's a lot here for you. Here we go. In today's episode, we cover:[2:25] Recent weather impacts on California farmers [4:20] Secretary Ross' background, experience & current role[6:34] California's agricultural agenda & its main priorities[8:57] The CA Department of Food & Agriculture's top programs [11:23] The Dairy Digester R&D Program - goals & how it works[13:52] Reducing methane emissions from cow burps[15:41] The menu of items to reduce emissions[16:51] The Biden Administration's Methane Emissions Reduction Plan[18:23] Other success stories or signs of progress [19:40] The biggest barrier to reaching “every farmer and at least one practice on every acre in California”[20:49] What is the state aiming to address through its Healthy Soils Program[22:49] The target of farms to be reached with 80,000 acres per year [24:58] Some ways that California & the federal government's climate initiatives influence one another[27:35] Other initiatives & states that Sec. Ross admires & is learning from[29:11] Opportunities within the ag tech space for innovators & investors to start dialing up their attention[32:44] Other highlights from Sec. Ross on global impact, International Womens Day & CA's accolades[34:49] What else needs to happen in US agriculture to meet Paris Accord climate commitments & other climate goals[36:26] What can listeners do to address climate change through food & agricultureResources MentionedCalifornia Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA)CDFA's Dairy Digester R&D ProgramThe U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction PlanCDFA's Healthy Soils ProgramInvested in Climate: Saving the planet with seaweed, Symbrosia & Sway, Ep #25Invested in Climate: Regenerative Ag with Biodel's Ben Cloud and Dr. Paul Zorner, Ep...

California Department of Food and Agriculture awarding $66-million in grants for the Healthy Soils Program, and National Association of Wheat Growers share their 2023 Farm Bill priorities.

Curious about the final funding levels for significant agriculture and water programs in the state budget?  Emily and Tricia cover state budget funding outcomes resulting from our 2021 advocacy work for programs, including: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) projects, canal repairs for improved water conveyance, FARMER Program, Healthy Soils Program, incentives for ag burning alternatives, pollinator habitat protection, dairy methane reduction projects and others. 

In this episode, Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist based out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, is joined by Jeanne Merrill, policy director at the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN). Colin and Jeanne discuss different "Climate Smart Agriculture" tools and policies in California, including the Healthy Soils Program; the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program; the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program; the Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation Program; the Alternative Manure Management Program; and the Climate Adaptation Program. They also discuss carbon markets, water quality trading, and other issues. Related ATTRA Resources Publications Payments for Ecosystem Services Agriculture, Climate Change, and Carbon Sequestration Managing Soils for Water Marketing Manure Videos Payments for Ecosystem Services Part I Payments for Ecosystem Services Part II: Carbon Markets and Credit Stacking Payments for Ecosystem Services Part III: Water Quality Trading Podcasts Water Quality Trading Conservation Easements and Ecosystem Service Markets Using Cover Crops to Sequester Carbon Soil Health and the Five Soil Health Principles Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Carbonomics Other Resources CalCAN National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Climate Change and Agriculture California Air Resources Board California Climate Investments Please complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here. Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture. You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website. You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page. Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website. Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages! Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

In this episode, Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist based out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas, is joined by Jeanne Merrill, policy director at the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN). Colin and Jeanne discuss different "Climate Smart Agriculture" tools and policies in California, including the Healthy Soils Program; the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program; the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program; the Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation Program; the Alternative Manure Management Program; and the Climate Adaptation Program.They also discuss carbon markets, water quality trading, and other issues.Related ATTRA ResourcesPublicationsPayments for Ecosystem ServicesAgriculture, Climate Change, and Carbon SequestrationManaging Soils for WaterMarketing ManureVideosPayments for Ecosystem Services Part IPayments for Ecosystem Services Part II: Carbon Markets and Credit StackingPayments for Ecosystem Services Part III: Water Quality TradingPodcastsWater Quality TradingConservation Easements and Ecosystem Service MarketsUsing Cover Crops to Sequester CarbonSoil Health and the Five Soil Health PrinciplesSoil Health and Regenerative AgricultureCarbonomicsOther ResourcesCalCANNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Climate Change and AgricultureCalifornia Air Resources Board California Climate InvestmentsPlease complete a brief survey to let us know what you thought of the content presented here.Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at askanag@ncat.org. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Dr. Charlotte Decock, Assistant Professor Cal Poly - Earth & Soil Sciences talks about soil management with the goal of capturing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere and sequestering them in the soil. Her teaching and research focus on sustainable fertilizer and soil management in California’s specialty crops. This podcast is a recording from a workshop we co-costed on soil health. As part of California Climate Investments, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program distributed $5.8 million in cap and trade funds in 2018 to farming and ranching operations for the implementation of soil health practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This workshop brought together a team of researchers and growers from Cal Poly, the Vineyard Team, J. Lohr Vineyard, and Tablas Creek Vineyard to talk about their Demonstration Project grant from the Healthy Soils Program to demonstrate the benefits of compost application and no-till practices for vineyard operations. References: 28: Understanding Soil Health  (Podcast) Dr. Charlotte Decock The Composting Process Compost Rate Calculator Floor Management for Soil Health Notes on Composting Grape Pomace Supporting Soil Health Using Compost | Slides from a talk by Cristina Lazcano & Charlotte Decock Sustainable Ag Expo SIP Certified Get More Subscribe on Google Play, iHeartRADIO, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.

The CDFA has the Healthy Soils Program, which provides grant money to farmers looking to make investments in soil health building practices.

This podcast is a recording from a workshop we co-costed on soil health. As part of California Climate Investments, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program distributed $5.8 million in cap and trade funds in 2018 to farming and ranching operations for the implementation of soil health practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This workshop brought together our team of researchers and growers from Cal Poly, the Vineyard Team, J. Lohr Vineyard, and Tablas Creek Vineyard to talk about their Demonstration Project grant from the Healthy Soils Program to demonstrate the benefits of compost application and no-till practices for vineyard operations. The first of our two recordings is with Kevin Piper, Director of Agricultural Operations, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Kevin describes the composting operation at Cal Poly SLO and all the factors that go into producing high-quality compost with the materials from Cal Poly’s farming operations. Our second speaker is Dr. Charlotte Decock, Assistant Professor Cal Poly - Earth & Soil Sciences. Charlotte talks about soil management with the goal of capturing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere and sequestering them in the soil. Her teaching and research focus on sustainable fertilizer and soil management in California’s specialty crops.   References: 19: Healthy Soils Program (Podcast) 28: Understanding Soil Health  (Podcast) Dr. Charlotte Decock The Composting Process Compost Rate Calculator Floor Management for Soil Health Notes on Composting Grape Pomace Supporting Soil Health Using Compost | Slides from a talk by Cristina Lazcano & Charlotte Decock What is Quality Compost | Slides from the talk in this podcast by Kevin Piper Get More Subscribe on Google Play, iHeartRADIO, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.

Charles Schembre is Vineyard Conservation Co-ordinator at Napa County Resource Conservation District. His work sees him leading the implementation of California’s Healthy Soils Program, a scheme which compensates farmers for increasing their soil health – with the goal of sequestering carbon and increasing water retention. Charles also helped create the first ever carbon farm plans for 4 vineyards in Napa county, working with their partners the Carbon Cycle Institute. You can hear more about these carbon farm plans and details of how they monitor soil health and carbon sequestration in this month’s short.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture appropriated funds to develop and administer a new incentive and demonstration program from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The objective of this new Healthy Soils Program is to build soil carbon and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. References: CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program CalCAN COMET-Planner- GHG reduction and carbon sequestration calculator PowerPoint slides from Jenny Lester Moffitt’s talk at the 2016 Sustainable Ag Expo Listen to the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.