October 2022 ESMC Newsletter
ESMC/ESMRC Updates
ESMC/ESMRC is Hiring – Join Our Mighty Team
ESMC/ESMRC is hiring for four positions – two Project Managers, a Protocol and Standards Manager, and a Policy and Engagement Manager. Read more on the positions and apply.
The Project Managers will join our quickly growing team in a virtual office environment and will serve on a team of Project Managers to plan, coordinate, implement and lead pilot projects and market projects. Project Managers work collaboratively as part of the larger ESMC/ESMRC team and with ESMC/ESMRC members and stakeholders. These are ideal positions for candidates experienced in working with producers to implement regenerative agricultural practice changes and who are interested in joining a quickly growing and innovative organization. Both Project Manager positions are remote contracted positions within the US.
The Protocol and Standards Manager will work as the ESMC and ESMRC lead responsible for protocol maintenance and refinement and conformance with relevant standards and guidance; and ensure ESMC project and program conformance with protocols. This position works with external standards and guidance bodies and organizations to ensure ESMC protocols meet established standards and guidance and collaboratively as part of the larger ESMC/ESMRC team and with ESMC/ESMRC members and stakeholders. This is a remote contracted position within the US.
The ESMC/ESMRC Policy and Member Engagement Manager will serve as ESMC/ESMRC’s lead on public policy issues that are relevant to ESMC/ESMRC’s mission and vision and the success of our agricultural ecosystem services market program. The Policy and Member Engagement Manager will identify public policy opportunities, obstacles, and barriers to a fully optimized ecosystem services market program and work to engage our members and stakeholders to achieve beneficial outcomes. The position is a contract position based in Washington DC.
Updated Eco-Harvest Program Eligibility Details Posted
For producers interested in ESMC’s Eco-Harvest market or Eco-Harvest pilot projects, ESMC has updated and clarified eligibility information on our website. These new details include enrollment questions and eligibility information for the two types of projects (pilot projects and market projects). For more information on current project’s see ESMC’s website. Eco-Harvest market projects are those that are market ready and where all components have been market tested and are launched at scale across market regions. Eco-Harvest pilot projects are those that are focusing on research and innovation questions and testing end-to-end project implementation and impact unit/emission factor generation, verification and sale.
ESMC in the News
Aglines: Soil Carbon Project Deadline Is Nov. 18
Grand Island Independent (October 16)
Producers in the Central Platte and Upper Big Blue natural resources districts are now able to enroll their acres in the new Nebraska Soil Carbon Project. This project provides greater financial incentives to producers who utilize key conservation practices in central Nebraska. Farmers can adopt soil health practices — including cover crops, no-till and diverse crop rotations that store carbon in the soil. Private companies will utilize the stored carbon and water quality benefits to help reach their goals around sustainability. Depending on the practices implemented, producers earn up to $45 per acre each year. The Nebraska Soil Carbon Project is a collaboration between ESMC, two Nebraska natural resources districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service (an ESMC funder), The Nature Conservancy (an ESMC funder and Founding Circle member), Cargill (an ESMC Founding Circle member), McDonald’s (an ESMC Legacy Partner member) and Target. Read the full article.
Look For ESMC At….
Sustainable Agriculture Summit; November 16 – 17, 2022, Glendale, AZ
The Sustainable Agriculture Summit is the premier sustainability event for agriculture and by agriculture, bringing together farmers, suppliers, processors, brands, academia, conservation organizations and the public sector. The Summit, hosted by ESMC Founding Circle member the Innovation Center for US Dairy and Legacy Partner member Field to Market, is a meeting place for all agricultural stakeholders to learn from expert speakers, share challenges and successes, and forge and strengthen cross-sector partnerships which will drive a more sustainable future for our industry. ESMC, with Legacy Partner member the Almond Board of California, will present a breakout session entitled, “Creating Opportunities for Almond Growers to Participate in Ecosystem Service Market Programs” on November 17 at 9:15am. Read more and register.
ESMC Member and Funder News
Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) Incentive Program: Open Application for Enrollment
With funding support from the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, VGBI is excited to offer monetary incentive payments to Virginia farmers willing to adopt one or more best management practices which encourage an abundance and diversity of bird species. Birds provide important ecosystem services that directly improve the resiliency of working landscapes. The application deadline is November 15. The VGBI program is run by The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes. ESMC Legacy Partner members American Farmland Trust and Quail Forever are lead collaborators. Read more and apply.
The Organic Center and FFAR Award $600,000 for Organic Research and Support
The Packer (October 21)
Research and education non-profits The Organic Center and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (an ESMC funder) have awarded over $600,000 in prizes to advance organic agriculture and develop critical training, technical support, and innovative climate research. Despite steady growth of the organic industry, more research and insights are needed to understand specific strategies and growing techniques organic growers can adopt to help mitigate the effects of climate change and manage the negative effects climate change is having on their farms through drought, flooding, invasive pests, and extreme weather events. Read the full article.
Other News of Note
The Field Report: As COP27 Approaches, a Push for More Attention to Food and Agriculture
Civil Eats (October 26)
On November 6, world leaders will meet in Egypt for COP27, the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. In the run-up to the event, many groups are calling attention to what they see as an alarming lack of progress toward reducing emissions from food and agriculture and building a more resilient system. Last week, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food (GAFF) published a report showing that while funding has increased significantly, global governments are only directing 3 percent of their climate dollars toward food and agriculture systems. Read the full article.
San Joaquin Air Control Board Gets Nearly $120 Million to Help Farmers Replace High-Emission Agriculture Equipment
CapRadio (October 26)
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Valley Air) will receive $118.8 million to help farmers replace gas- and diesel-powered equipment as part of a plan to reduce agricultural emissions from Bakersfield to Stockton. Funding will come from the California Air Resources Board Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions program, which provides funding for low-emission farming equipment through air resources boards across the state. Read the full article.
Sustainable Farming Has an Unlikely Ally: Satellites
Wired (October 25)
Growers are using images taken from space to quantify how much carbon is stored in their soil and validate the credits they’re selling. Read the full report.
Soil’s Power as a Climate Solution Has Often Been Overlooked. Until Now
Time (October 21)
One of the most significant carbon sinks on the planet is right below your feet. Soil, that layer of organic material and crushed-up rock that covers much of the terrestrial earth like a chocolate coating, contains about 2,500 billion metric tons of carbon. It’s the second-biggest carbon sink on the planet after the ocean, currently holding about three times as much carbon as the atmosphere. Some scientists and activists think it could do even more. Read the full article.
Crop Production and Climate Impacts: Climate Change Will Slow Midwest Yield Increases for Corn, Soybeans, Wheat
Farmer DTN (October 20)
Midwest farmers will struggle more in the coming years to hit the yield increases they have come to expect over the past generation. A new report released recently by Environmental Defense Fund at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue looked at corn, soybean and wheat yields. The analysis used 20 different computer models to analyze how climate change will alter yields in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas by 2030 and 2050. Read the full article.
Soil Health Focus Increasing for Growers
CropLife (October 17)
If you have had a conversation about agricultural production in the last year, it seems likely that it included terms like “soil health,” “microbiome,” or “regenerative agriculture.” With that in mind, CropLife built a Global Insight Series Report on Soil Health around some of the most recent developments happening across agriculture, including both the specialty and row crop areas. Read the full article.
FBN Issues Major Report on Fertilizer Prices and the Potential Impact of Sky-High Nitrogen Costs on 2023 Acreage Intentions
Global News Wire (October 12)
Farmers Business Network released its first Fertilizer Price Transparency Report, an in-depth examination of how rapidly increasing fertilizer prices will impact farmers’ application rates this fall and planting decisions next year. The report is based on FBN member input on fall fertilizer price quotes, their 2022 application rates, and a preview of their 2023 crop plans. Read the full news release.
