Climate smart commodities
OACD CLIMATE SMART PROJECT
OACD is honored to have received a $4.9M Climate Smart Commodities grant and eager to begin work here in Oklahoma to advance the adoption of regenerative farming practices, ensure the fiscal sustainability of our farmers, and protect our most valuable natural resources including our people.
The project is entitled, "Expanding markets for pecans and livestock in OK, the Muscogee Creek Nation, and the Choctaw Nation. To support socially disadvantaged farmers and tribes' implementation and monitoring of climate-smart practices."
Misson
To support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities by providing voluntary incentives to producers and landowners, including early adopters, to implement climate-smart agricultural production practices, activities, and systems on working lands; measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices; and develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities.
Producer Eligibility
Steps to Establish Farm Records with the USDA Farm Service Agency:
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Complete form AD-2047 to provide customer data.
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Certify land conservation compliance via form AD-1026.
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Confirm non-foreign status and non-duplication of government funds.
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Agree to share farm data for emissions and carbon sequestration calculations.
Equity Note: Historically Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged producers, including minorities, veterans and limited-resource farmers, are encouraged to apply.
Practices
The climate smart agriculture practices that will be used in Oklahoma include:
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Cover cropping
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No-till
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Buffers
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Grassland management
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Prescribed grazing
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Native grass plantings for high carbon sequestration
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Agroforestry on working lands
The project is open to additional CSC practices based on recommendations by the producer advisory committee.
goals
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Enroll minimum of 125 producers
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Enroll minimum of 10,000 acres, maximum an individual may enroll is 80 acres
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Building markets and reduced GHG emission market facilitation
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Creation of eastern OK beef cooperative and a value added pecan production network. Harness the power of cooperative marketing and the development a system of support to empower producers to make marketing decisions with confidence
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Silvopasture- work closely with Oklahoma Department of Forestry and OCC to incorporate prescribed livestock grazing in pecan orchard to improve soil health and increase carbon sequestration
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Soil health- build organic matter and resilience against extreme climate events
monitoring
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Soil sampling to monitor program participant and non-program participant progress in building soil health resiliency
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WORMS and COMET to track all baseline and progress data including; carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation to reduce runoff, phosphorus and sediment runoff reduction, estimated reductions in GHG emissions, and increased infiltration rates
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Oversight of technical assistance will be provided by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission including but not limited to; conservation plans, soil testing, WORMS, and generalized education
project partners
RESOURCES FOR PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
Networking: Scholarships to annual state meeting for continuing conservation education and training
Assistance: Farm number attainment assistance through OBHRPI