Vilsack Announces Additional $325 Million for Climate-Smart Grants

USDA announced this week an additional $325 million into 71 projects for climate-smart commodities. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement as part of a larger $3.1 billion allocated for climate-smart agriculture projects. Sec. Vilsack says American agriculture can lead the world in climate-smart practices, thereby increasing overall competitiveness and profitability for agriculture producers.

However, Republicans are saying the White House is exceeding its authority in creating such a large funding program, as some in the scientific community say more detail is needed to determine the environmental value of projects. Some 60,000 farmers and more than 25 million acres would be involved in the projects, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Read more on USDA funding here.