Southern Piedmont Climate-Smart Project

Aimed at the southern piedmont vegetable farming community, this proposal will utilize an interdisciplinary system approach including farmer adoption, understanding economic/social barriers, market/consumer buy-in, utilizing technology, and easing the burden on farmers. The results of the project will build climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increases carbon sequestration, and increase farmer economic opportunities and adoption of climate-smart agriculture.

Acreage may not be enrolled in other NRCS cost-share programs for same practices. Producers must be diversified vegetable farmers in the Southern Piedmont region.

Participating farms will:

• Follow the planting and cover cropping rotation provided

• Commit to provide data via phone application

• Participate in project training events

• Allow project team scheduled access to enrolled acres for data collection

Farms participating in the program are eligible for cash incentives for participating, as outlined below:

• $1,500/acre/year for 1-10 acres dedicated to the project

• Up to $200/year for filling out data given to the project team

• $220/acre/year up to $1,100/year for input reimbursement

• $100/year for participation in focus groups in barriers to adopting climate-smart agricultural practices

Non-cash incentives include:

• Cash crop seed for up to 10 acres / year

• Cover crop seed for up to 5 acres/year

• Free technical assistance

• Free equipment usage

Fill out the application here.

• Webinar for farmer information