Tennessee’s farmers can deliver solutions
Time for Congress to enact legislation that will combat climate change, provide more support.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty was everywhere. Would the virus spread, and where? What did this mean for day-today life?
Pretty quickly, that uncertainty showed up at the grocery store with partially empty shelves as people panicked and stocked up on food.
Today, plenty of uncertainty remains but our grocery store shelves are full again. America’s food supply chain has proven to be strong and resilient. America’s farmers are at the beginning of that supply chain, including growers here in Tennessee. I’m so grateful for the work they’ve done to keep us fed even during these tumultuous times.
But COVID-19 is not the only challenge facing our country or our farmers. Climate change, with its unpredictable precipitation, rising heat, and stronger extreme weather events, brings another level of uncertainty to America’s agriculture sector. It’s time for Congress to enact legislation that will combat climate change and give farmers more support.
Efforts in supporting farmer are being made
Encouragingly, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives introduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act.
This legislation provides the incentive for farmers and foresters to engage in sustainable practices by helping them to access lucrative carbon credit markets and get paid for emissions they reduce and carbon they sequester.
Farmers get technical assistance to develop practices that are eligible for carbon credits, measure the value of those credits, and certify them for trading on the market.
This is good news for farmers and for the planet, since agriculture and forestry contribute an estimated 10.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the USDA.
Here in Tennessee, climate change is already affecting farmers through heat and drought stress on many crops and livestock. More intense storms cause flooded fields along with higher rates of soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
Conditions for farmers grow harsher amid climate change
Crops requiring winter chilling, like wheat and fruit trees, have lower yields and more insect and disease problems. Farm workers are subjected to more heat stress. Global shifts in the availability of agricultural products are expected to affect market prices in Tennessee. Let’s help farmers combat these concerning trends and reap a financial benefit while they do.
Our own Representative Steve Cohen (D-memphis) is a cosponsor of the Growing Climate Solutions Act in the House. Experts from Tennessee universities and businesspeople have endorsed action on climate change: economists, psychologists, and micro-brew pubs.
In July, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on this legislation. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the ranking member on the committee and a cosponsor of the Growing Climate Solutions Act said, “While farmers are uniquely affected by the climate crisis, they are also a critically important part of the solution.”
Even as farmers need support to navigate our changing climate, they can help prevent the worst changes. Here’s hoping that Congress will pass bipartisan legislation that values farmers’ contributions to feeding America while solving the challenge of climate change.
Attend the Southeast/appalachia CCL Regional Conference on August 22. Hear about climate change and food security from Lt. General John "Glad" Castellaw and about smart agriculture from Dr. Joanne Logan.
Dr. Joanne Logan, University of Tennessee, directs the undergraduate program in Environmental Science. She teaches, advocates and lectures on climate change.