Former Vice President Al Gore: “Rain bombs, floods, heat stress, drought, and a multitude of other impacts have made it clear that the climate crisis is also a food and agriculture crisis. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act rightly puts farmers at the center of a comprehensive plan to achieve net-zero emissions from the US agricultural system by 2040. This Act harnesses science and resources to advance regenerative farming practices in order to protect and enhance soil health while removing carbon from the atmosphere. By realizing the vision set forth in this bill, American farmers can continue to provide healthy food sustainably, while playing a leading role in solving the climate crisis.”
Organic Farmers Association: “The Organic Farmers Association represents U.S. certified organic farmers. Our members have been documenting climate changes on their farms for decades and in the past few years, severe weather events have been a more forceful reminder that the climate is changing. We need to not only reduce the major sources of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, but also implement policies that encourage practices that sequester carbon and support healthy soil. Representative Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act is a long overdue roadmap for how to make agriculture part of the solution to climate change. OFA is proud to support this bill.”
Tim Fink, Policy Director, American Farmland Trust: "We applaud Rep. Pingree and Senator Heinrich for introducing the Agriculture Resilience Act. The legislation rightfully takes an all-hands-on-deck approach, bringing to bear many facets of agriculture in combatting climate change and building food system resilience, including expanding farmland protection, supporting soil health initiatives, and funding farm viability efforts like business technical assistance. As Congress writes a new Farm Bill, we look forward to working with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and other stakeholders, in advancing policies that include our nation's producers as part of the solution."
Renata Brillinger, California Climate and Agriculture Network: “Agriculture has so much to offer—and much at stake—when it comes to turning our farms into carbon sinks and making our food system more secure. The Agriculture Resilience Act will provide the resources needed to turn agricultural solutions to climate change into wins for farmers, our health and the environment.”
Roland McReynolds, Executive Director, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: "Carolina Farm Stewardship Association supports the Agriculture Resilience Act and advocates for its full inclusion in the 2023 Farm Bill. ARA has the potential to create a more resilient and sustainable food system that benefits both farmers and the environment by prioritizing funding for programs that support climate-smart agriculture and equity."
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.: “Coastal Enterprises, Inc., applauds Congresswoman Chellie Pingree on the release of her bill, the Agriculture Resilience Act. This bill takes an approach to climate change mitigation and agricultural sustainability that is solutions-focused, science-based, and that engages agricultural producers at the community level. We support her bottom-up solutions that incentivize best practices. The bill’s comprehensive scope encompasses many areas that can make a real difference, from soil health to food waste to production and processing. We wholeheartedly support this bill; we believe it will go a long way toward shifting the current agriculture paradigm and will support farmers to integrate better practices while increasing their financial sustainability.”
David Runsten, Policy Director, Community Alliance with Family Farmers: “The Community Alliance with Family Farmers was the only agricultural organization in California to support the state's first-in-the-nation climate change bill in 2006, because climate smart farming practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide multiple environmental and economic benefits to farmers. Representative Pingree's HR 5861 recognizes the important role farmers can play as part of the climate solution. We applaud her work and urge the Senate to debate this important legislation as well.”
Peter Lehner, Managing Attorney for Sustainable Food & Farming, Earthjustice and co-author: Farming for Our Future; the Science, Law, and Policy of Climate-Neutral Agriculture: "When carbon is in soil, the soil is healthier and more resilient. When carbon is in the air, it leads to harmful climate change. The Agriculture Resilience Act will help farmers and ranchers keep carbon where it should be by accelerating adoption of proven, profitable agroecological practices. We applaud Representative Pingree and Senator Heinrich for introducing the ARA, which provides many of the necessary policy boosts to ensure that agriculture can become part of the climate change solution. This is a bill every legislator should support."
Michael Wall, Director of Farmer Services, Georgia Organics: "The Agricultural Resilience Act puts farmers and soil health at the center of our country's effort to save our species and mitigate climate change. This is the legislation we have to have if we are ever going to have a Farm Bill that works as well for farmers and it does for the environment."
Sandra Purohit, Director of Federal Advocacy for E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs): "This bill recognizes that farmers want to be part of the climate solution and that we need them to be. By increasing investments in opportunities such as the soil health and cover crop programs, Rep. Pingree’s bill takes an essential step to making that happen."
Colin O’Neil, Legislative Director, Environmental Working Group: No one understands the impacts of the climate crisis better than American farmers, who are already reeling from the effects of extreme weather events. It is high time that Washington start treating the climate crisis like what it is – a crisis. EWG applauds Rep. Pingree for putting forward a bold, visionary plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the farm sector in half before 2030 and setting a goal to be net-zero by 2040. All sectors of the economy will need to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially energy companies. But farmers are uniquely positioned to reduce emissions and conserve carbon right away. With the right practices in place, we could capture and store more carbon in the ground, reduce emissions from fertilizer application and manure management, make farms more resilient to the effects of climate change and help protect our drinking water supplies.
Farm Aid: “The Agricultural Resilience Act invests in the great potential of family farmers to address our climate crisis. Farm Aid has long maintained that while farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of climate change, they are also best-positioned to lead our country with solutions and innovations that improve soil health, sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity and much more. We look forward to working with Representative Pingree on passing the Agricultural Resilience Act."
Emily Broad Leib, Director, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic: “The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) is thrilled to see Representative Pingree champion this significant federal legislation. Directing federal funds to support climate resilience in the food and agricultural sector makes perfect sense, as this sector holds great potential for ensuring a clean environment and mitigating climate change, and because farmers bear the brunt of increasing shifts in climate. We strongly support the proposed changes to crop insurance and conservation compliance to promote soil health, increased support for agroforestry centers, and a concerted focus on carbon sequestration and GHG emission reduction in working lands conservation programs. Further, we applaud the bill’s provisions to reduce food waste because food waste is a major contributor to GHG, as well as a waste of natural resources and a drain on the national economy. Requiring surplus food donation by federal contractors, supporting states and Tribes in investing in composting and anaerobic digestion, providing grants for food waste reduction in schools, and helping consumers by clarifying the senseless date labels, all offer commonsense solutions to reduce the amount of food that needlessly goes to waste.”
Ben Lilliston, The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: "Climate change is not waiting on Congress to act. Farmers are facing increasing drought, extreme winds, downpours, and heat. We need to act boldly and urgently to help farmers adapt to climate change while reducing emissions. The Agriculture Resilience Act does just that by expanding farm conservation programs, and investing in research, farmland protection, pasture-based livestock, soil health and local markets - all critical steps toward a more resilient food system."
Duane Hovorka, Izaak Walton League of America: “Agriculture can be a vital part of solutions to address climate change, improve water quality, and protect human health. Representative Pingree's legislation invests in America's future by providing the tools essential to restoring healthy soils, cleaning up runoff, and conserving vital habitat for fish and wildlife."
Shelley Megquier, Policy & Research Director, Maine Farmland Trust:
"We applaud Representative Pingree's leadership in crafting and introducing the Agriculture Resilience Act in response to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change. The Agriculture Resilience Act charts a path forward for farmers to withstand climate impacts on their farms and remain financially viable, securing a future for their livelihoods, our food security, and economy. This bill will provide essential support to Maine farmers to implement climate-friendly farming practices through funding, research, and risk management."
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association: “The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) applauds Congresswoman Pingree’s leadership in recognizing the critical role that agriculture plays in addressing the global climate crisis. The Agriculture Resilience Act lays out broad and ambitious goals for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of our changing climate. MOFGA is especially grateful to Representative Pingree for prioritizing investments in soil health, agricultural research, conservation practices, biodiversity, and increased technical and financial assistance for organic production practices.”
Steve Thompson, Executive Director, National Center for Appropriate Technology: “American agriculture can be an important part of the climate solution. By building soil organic matter, diversifying production systems, and developing on-farm renewable energy production, America farmers are increasing the resilience of our food systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Pingree’s bill turbocharges these efforts by providing a full range of tools and incentives that will help U.S. farmers prosper while reducing the risks associated with accelerating climate change. The National Center for Appropriate Technology enthusiastically supports this legislation.”
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew: “Farmers Union members and family farmers across the country are working to address the climate crisis and want to do more. The Agriculture Resilience Act makes that easier by incentivizing practices that reduce emissions and improve soil health. Thank you to the sponsors for reintroducing this bill in an important farm bill year.”
Abby Youngblood, Executive Director, National Organic Coalition: “The National Organic Coalition applauds Congresswoman Pingree for her leadership in introducing the Agriculture Resilience Act to make the necessary federal investments to enable farmers to use climate friendly farming practices to help solve the climate crisis before it’s too late. Addressing the climate crisis facing our planet should be a top priority for Congress. Science is showing us that agriculture can be a major part of the solution to the problem, but it requires a very deliberate shift toward climate-friendly farming practices. Organic agriculture is the best example of a climate-friendly system of farming and offers the best hope for achieving the greenhouse gas reduction, carbon sequestration and mitigation goals necessary to pull our planet back from the brink of catastrophe. Congresswoman Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act provides meaningful incentives for farmers to shift to the use of farming practices that are already commonly required under organic standards. The National Organic Coalition strongly endorses this legislation and will work for its enactment.”
Allison Johnson, Senior Attorney for Health & Food, Natural Resources Defense Council: “We need transformative change to truly address the climate crisis and farmers are an essential part of the solution. This bill’s focus on expanding organic farming, improving soil health, and reducing food waste will mitigate climate impacts while protecting our health and communities.”
Cathy Day, Climate Policy Coordinator, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: "The urgent need for comprehensive agricultural climate change policy has never been clearer. As farmers and ranchers face heightened flood, drought, wildfire, pests, and other risks exacerbated by climate change, they need farmer-led policy that addresses the multifaceted challenges before them. Built into the Agriculture Resilience Act are direct incentives that provide farmers, researchers, and food systems workers the tools to both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the risks of climate change in the longer term. Transformative climate policy, incorporating support for a permanent shift toward agroecological systems, is vital. NSAC is pleased to endorse the Agriculture Resilience Act."
Lotanna Obodozie, Climate Campaign Director, National Young Farmers Coalition: "The National Young Farmers Coalition is proud to endorse the Agriculture Resilience Act and commends Representative Pingree and Senator Heinrich for introducing a comprehensive bill that provides farmers with the tools they need to be a part of the solution to the climate crisis. The Agriculture Resilience Act recognizes that investing in the next generation of farmers is critical to achieving the United States' climate goals while building a resilient future in agriculture."
Ed Maltby, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance: “The Pingree Agriculture Resilience Act 2023 tackles the practical implications of climate change facing farmers with size appropriate solutions. The Act recognizes the importance of healthy soils and the positive impact that grazing animals make in maximizing carbon sequestration, gHg reductions and overall environmental and public health. It is not about forcing regulation on farms but rather offering financial incentives to help reach the goals in addition to expanding the information base needed for successful sustainable agriculture into a future with a changing climate."
Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council: “The Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council strongly endorses Congresswoman Pingree’s comprehensive “Agriculture Resilience Act” supporting longtime organic soil health practices such as cover-cropping; rotational grazing and composting. As farmers are increasingly impacted by Climate Change, this bill’s multi-year support for research, resilient soil health practices, farmland preservation, etc. is critical for our food supply, while also providing multiple environmental benefits including clean air and water. Supporting agriculture’s proven capacity to mitigate Climate Change via practices that sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon in the soil is a clear contribution to the public good.”
Brise Tencer, Executive Director, The Organic Farming Research Foundation: "The Organic Farming Research Foundation is proud to endorse the Agricultural Resilience Act (ARA), which provides a science-based blueprint for our food system to meet the challenge of our climate crisis. As a research-focused organization, OFRF has done extensive reviews of strategies to both mitigate and adapt to climate chance, and the ARA supports many of them: soil health management systems, advanced grazing management, public regionally-focused cultivar and livestock breed development, and establishing sustainable, organic, and conservation practices as Good Farming Practices for Risk Management programs. Ultimately, the ARA would put the USDA on the right path to meet the goal of our food system becoming climate neutral by 2040."
Cathleen McCluskey, Organic Seed Alliance: “To address the impact of climate change on agriculture, we have to turn our attention to the first link in our food production chain – seed. Congresswoman Pingree’s H.R. 5861 will result in new public cultivars that help growers adapt to increasingly variable climates. Seed diversity is essential to building agricultural resilience.”
Laura Batcha, former CEO, Organic Trade Association: “The climate crisis is an urgent issue that impacts us all, but especially our farmers. We applaud Congresswoman Pingree’s longtime leadership and her solutions oriented approach to reducing agriculture’s emissions and promoting sustainable agriculture. As an organic farmer herself she brings a unique perspective on what organic agriculture delivers to helping move our nation towards a climate friendly food and farming system. The Agriculture Resiliency Act is a transformative bill that will help farmers meet the important goal of net zero emissions within the agriculture sector.”
PCC Community Markets: “We support the Agricultural Resilience Act and believe that through the emphasis of strong soil health principles, increased funding for conservation and organic programs, and ambitious carbon reduction and sequestration goals, this bill is a comprehensive and collaborative step towards meaningful climate action in the agricultural sector,” says Aimee Simpson, Director of Advocacy and Product Sustainability for PCC Community Markets, the nation’s largest community-owned food market.
Pesticide Action Network North America: “The Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA), enthusiastically endorses the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA). We work at the federal level, as well as in California, Minnesota, Iowa and Hawai'i, on behalf of, and together with, those most affected by the indiscriminate use of highly hazardous pesticides (e.g. farmworkers, farmers, children and Indigenous communities). We are especially enthused about ARA’s prioritization of grants that support ecologically-based pest management approaches that are effective, affordable, and environmentally-sound, maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities, and improve climate resilience. We are also avid proponents of agroecology — a productive, ecologically resilient, equitable, economically viable and sustainable approach to farming that integrates cutting edge science with local and Indigenous knowledge and practice, and a commitment to the political approach of food sovereignty. As such, we are also very happy to see that the ARA calls for increasing set-asides in EQIP and CSP for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and provides support for the new generation of farmers and ranchers using the full array of climate-friendly practices from the outset of their farming careers."
Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture: "We've known for decades that farmers are both some of the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, as well as key players in mitigating its effects. Rep. Chellie Pingree's Agricultural Resilience Act, offers farmers the incentives they need to both help them implement conservation practices—from improving soil health to improving grazing management—that build resilience to severe weather and enables them to be part of the climate change solution. This bold and innovative approach is just what we need, and not a moment too soon!"
J.V. Worstell, Ph.D., Resilience Project: “Resilience Project fully endorses the Agricultural Resilience Act. We are especially enthused about the support for adaptive or management intensive grazing in the Act. We've found nothing does a better job of sequestering carbon in the soil than mimicking the natural processes which produced the richest soils in the world--the black prairies of the Midwest and the rich chenozem in Ukraine and Russia. We are also heartened by the support in the bill for silvopasture systems. The potential of these systems is immense. However, silvopasture needs more adaptive research--and that is insightfully provided in the Act through the expansion of the SARE program. These are just a few of the many sections of this Act which excite the members of the Resilience Project. The Agricultural Resilience Act also has the potential to be a constructive force internationally. Resilience Project works in many countries in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia which are in dire need of advice on how to combat climate change and increase resilience of their farmers. This Act provides such guidance.”
Keefe Keeley, Co-Executive Director, The Savanna Institute: “The Agriculture Resilience Act addresses gaps in supporting farmers to address our climate crisis. By creating four agroforestry centers, including expanding the one in Lincoln NE, this bill will ensure that federal research and support for agroforestry is within-reach of many of the major farming centers of the country. These centers can coordinate the distribution of services and resources both regionally and nationally, reducing confusion about federal support for agroforestry and spear-heading demonstration initiatives. This Act also addresses another major barrier to agroforestry through its support for public cultivar research. Not nearly enough research has gone into identifying viable commercial cultivars for Midwest tree crops. While organizations such as the Savanna Institute have been taking steps to address that gap, the federal government has a major role to play in incentivizing and coordinating such research. If passed, this Act would help make widespread agroforestry across the country possible. For that reason, we enthusiastically support its passage.”
Britt Lundgren, Senior Director of Sustainability, Stonyfield: “Our children’s future depends on the federal government taking decisive action to put the US on course to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At Stonyfield we know that agriculture is a critical part of the solution to climate change, and farmers need the right tools and support to make this happen. We applaud Representative Pingree for her leadership - this legislation is a blueprint for how agriculture can transition from being a net source of greenhouse gas emissions to being a net sink.”
Ivan Fernandez, Professor of Soil Science, UMaine Climate Change Institute: “Congresswoman Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act provides a critical and comprehensive approach to address the challenge of climate change by enhancing soil health, protecting farmland, investing in research, reducing food waste, and investing in on-farm renewable energy solutions. These initiatives reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the resilience of our farm and food systems. Increasing the tools for farmers to address the climate challenge with resources such as the USDA Regional Climate Hubs has never been more critical than today. Building the nation’s soil health is a win-win for the climate, human health, and the economy.”
Virginia Association for Biological Farming: "The Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF) enthusiastically supports the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA). With climate change bringing record flooding in 2018, a flash drought in summer 2019, and fruit crops ruined by untimely spring freezes after abnormally warm winters such as that of 2022-23, Virginia's producers need all the help they can get to stay in business. The ARA takes a thorough and holistic approach to the goals of making US agriculture carbon-neutral by the year 2040 and enhancing agricultural resilience to erratic and extreme weather. We especially welcome its strong emphasis on soil health, advanced grazing management, plant and animal breeding for resilience, agroforestry, composting of organic residues, and robust funding for USDA research and conservation programming to address the climate crisis. Increased research investment in organic and agroecological systems will be absolutely vital. For example, findings to date indicate that advanced soil health and nutrient management can greatly reduce fertilizer inputs and thereby curb nitrous oxide emissions, the largest component of US agriculture's direct greenhouse gas emissions. More research and outreach are needed to enable farmers to put this strategy into widespread practice."
Melissa D. Ho, Senior Vice President of Freshwater and Food, World Wildlife Fund: “While agriculture is a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions and a primary driver of biodiversity loss and land use change, the agriculture sector has the unique ability to be part of the solution for climate and nature. The Agriculture Resilience Act is an important and commendable effort to address the climate crisis through comprehensive, meaningful agricultural solutions. This bill leverages many programs and incentives for win-win outcomes for producers and nature and raises the bar for US agriculture in responding to climate change.”
Jaydee Hanson, Policy Director, Center for Food Safety: "The Center for Food Safety strongly supports the Agriculture Resilience Act as introduced by Representative Pingree. We believe that it is essential that it becomes part of the Farm Bill."
Erica Campbell, Kiss the Ground: "Farmers and ranchers are rebuilding soil health faster than we ever thought possible to become more resilient, but they can't do this alone--the ARA is essential for producers to get the support they need to both adapt to and mitigate climate change."
Peter LaFontaine, Friends of the Mississippi River: "Investing in applied research is a key driver of sustainability in ag. The ARA will provide a much-needed focus on climate resilience and mitigation, helping America's farm economy meet the challenges of our time."
Cristel Zoebisch, Deputy Director of Policy, Carbon180: "The Agriculture Resilience Act has a strong emphasis on soil carbon sequestration, standardized measurement, and large-scale data collection‚ it's a comprehensive roadmap for agriculture reaching net-zero. The newly defined coordination between the LTAR Network and the Climate Hubs to give farmers and ranchers access to the latest research and ensure they can all participate equitably. Congresswoman Pingree and Senator Heinrich are clearly committed to science-backed climate mitigation strategies, and we thank them for their leadership and vision in agriculture."
Thomas Manley, Marbleseed: "How we shape farm policy in this critical moment will have a massive impact on our collective ability to preserve soil, maintain and improve water quality, mitigate the impacts of climate disruption, and protect human health. These are not partisan concerns. We all rely on the very same natural resource base for our lives and livelihoods. The ARA is legislation that is simply good for America."
Jeff Moyer, CEO, Rodale Institute: "Representative Pingree's suggested changes to the Agriculture Resilience Act recognize how critical soil health and system resiliency are to the American agricultural sector. The Institute supports and applauds the Representative's efforts to improve conditions for farmers in the United States."
Chris Schreiner, Executive Director, Oregon Tilth: "Farmers and farmworkers are on the front lines of climate-related adverse impacts, including increased extreme weather events, wildfire, drought, record heat and declining water resources. The latest science and farmer experiences have demonstrated how organic and regenerative agriculture can be part of the solution. We can revitalize agriculture and mitigate climate change with focused attention on research, technical assistance, conservation, and organic practices. The Agricultural Resilience Act represents a bold blueprint on how to rebuild a better, brighter food future."
Ricardo Salvador, the Union of Concerned Scientists: "The Agriculture Resilience Act would provide a science-backed roadmap to build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable food and farm system at a time when the climate crisis is devastating farmers and ranchers. Our current system of industrial corporate agriculture is damaging our soil, polluting our air and water, and leaving our food system vulnerable to extreme weather, all while contributing to the climate crisis. Critically, this bill would support more farmers to adopt practices that build healthier soil that resists erosion, acts like a sponge to buffer farms from worsening floods and droughts, and keeps water clean. Farmers across the country are already finding success with practices like planting cover crops, rotating crops and grazing, but truly transforming our food system requires more financial and technical support. This bill will give farmers the tools they need to thrive and be part of the solution to the climate crisis."
Sarah Goldman, Land Stewardship Project: "Over the past few years our farmers have experienced unprecedented drought, flooding, wind, hail, and many other extreme weather events. Now is the time to invest in farmer-led solutions to the climate crisis. This bill is roadmap to achieving net-zero emissions in the agricultural sector while also equipping farmers with the tools they need to respond, mitigate and adapt to the climate impacts ahead. The Agriculture Resilience Act will make a huge difference for our farmers, rural communities, and the land."
Aria McLauchlan, Land Core: "Building soil health, and supporting the resilience and independence of American producers, is essential. The Ag Resilience Act aims to do just that."
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union: “Farmers and ranchers face distinct challenges in producing our nation’s food, fiber and fuel. Erratic weather and inconsistent precipitation make it increasingly difficult to operate a viable agricultural business,“ says Chad Franke, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President. “The good news is that no other industry has this level of opportunity to mitigate the harmful effects of human caused climate disruption. The Agriculture Resilience Act will help our producers respond to this changing climate and continue stewarding our precious natural resources. We thank Senator Heinrich for his leadership in bringing forward this vital piece of legislation.”
NM Healthy Soil Working Group: “On behalf of the New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group, a grassroots education and advocacy organization, we commend Senator Heinrich for introducing and sponsoring the Agriculture Resilience Act. The Act is vital for our future by honoring farmers and ranchers, by investing in and incentivizing the health of the soil and by helping restore relationships with the land and each other.”
Anya Fetcher, Federal Policy Advocate, Natural Resources Council of Maine: “Congresswoman Pingree has been a strong, unwavering champion for bold climate solutions that will help grow Maine's local economies, including our local food systems. This bill recognizes that while we need to give farmers more tools to remain strong in the face of extreme weather, they also can be part of the solution by acting as responsible stewards of the land.”
