Farmer and Rancher-led Climate Change Solutions Report

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) held a series of six public stakeholder meetings in February 2021 to solicit farmer-and rancher-led climate change solutions that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs), ensure climate resilience, provide food security, and increase biodiversity. These meetings were held in accordance with Executive Order (EO) N-82-20, which calls for the development of innovative strategies for using California lands to address climate change and biodiversity crises, and for CDFA to work with agricultural stakeholders to identify farmer-and rancher-led solutions.

This report released in November 2021 summarizes recommendations made by farmers, ranchers, and other public stakeholders. These recommendations will be used to improve CDFA’s agricultural programs and incentives, to inform the development of the next climate change Scoping Plan, and for ongoing and future work of the Natural Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. A summary of the recommendations including potential follow up actions are noted at the end of the report.

Final Report – Farmer- and Rancher-led Climate Solutions Report

Background Information on the Farmer- And Rancher-Led Climate-Change Solutions Effort

The CDFA will hold stakeholder meetings in February to solicit feedback from the public and agricultural stakeholders on climate-change solutions that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases and enhance biodiversity.

The meetings will be organized around three agricultural categories: livestock and dairy; row and field crops (annual crops); and trees and vines (perennial crops). For each agricultural category CDFA will host two meetings of approximately two hours each. The first meeting will include an introductory presentation followed by an opportunity for stakeholder input. The second meeting will allow further discussion and capture additional feedback. Those interested in attending are invited to register via the following links:

Livestock and Dairy Meeting #1, February 8 at 2 p.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdO-qrjwpE9TCt74IRi0V4FaVYS9f5jNu
- Livestock and Dairy Meeting #2, February 12 at 9 a.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpce-opzMsGNAruyE0r0-kytqobtBN_cNN
Annual Crops Meeting #1, February 16 at 2 p.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdOqgqj0sGNRlzD5RdDouZcGBWa3d_RMc
- Annual Crops Meeting #2, February 19 at 9 a.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-GhrTsuE9J1mm3NiT8KwCR2qJhwBRXp
Perennial Crops Meeting #1, February 23 at 2 p.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEude6orDkiEtAwaTScN-oU3f5IQCBmAqws
- Perennial Crops Meeting #2, February 26 at 9 a.m.: https://csus.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcOytrz4pHd3fJw2Ig7xNqT6PbvGFKIEb

Prior to the public meetings, stakeholders are encouraged to review documents produced by the CDFA following previous engagements. These reports include the Climate Change Consortium and the Climate Assessment reports. Farmer and Rancher-led climate solutions are also highlighted in CDFA's Climate Smart Agriculture programs under the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation and include the Healthy Soils Program, State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and the Alternative Manure Management Program.

In March, the report from the February meetings will be made available for a 30-day public comment period, after which the information will be used to inform CDFA and other state agencies about farmer-and rancher-led climate solutions. These public meetings respond to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20, which calls upon CDFA and other agencies to “identify and implement near- and long-term actions to accelerate natural removal of carbon and build climate resilience.” The collected information will contribute to ongoing and future work on the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, and in turn inform the next update of the California AB 32 and SB 32 Scoping Plan.

If you have questions regarding these meetings, or would like to submit written responses to the information requests in the meeting Agenda, please contact CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation by email at cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov. Input will be received until 14 days after the relevant meeting.

For those who are unable to attend the first meeting, the opening presentation is found below. It also contains lists of CDFA-incentivized conservation practices with climate benefits.