On Friday, August 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Earlier that week, the U.S. Senate passed the IRA by a vote of 51-50. President Joe Biden then signed the bill into law on Tuesday, August 16. NACD applauded the bill’s inclusion of historic investments to support conservation, improve resilience, and address climate change.
“NACD is pleased to see continued support from Congress and the administration in conservation program funding,” said NACD President Michael Crowder. “We applaud this investment in conservation and natural resource management, and we will continue to advocate for support for these programs that are critical to addressing climate change by improving the health of our soils, watersheds, and forests. We look forward to continuing our work with all members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, to bring voluntary conservation and natural resource management to the producers and landowners who benefit from these programs.”
The IRA includes approximately $18 billion for voluntary conservation programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) between Fiscal Years 2023 and 2026. The bill also prioritizes funding for projects supported by these programs that reduce, capture, or prevent greenhouse gas emissions.
The IRA also includes $1 billion for conservation technical assistance, which allows NRCS and conservation districts across the country to help producers and land managers assess resource needs, develop conservation plans, and implement conservation practices. This funding will also support critical NRCS staffing needs. The bill also provides $300 million for NRCS to measure the impact of agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions and $100 million for the administrative costs of the agency.
The IRA also includes substantial investments to support conservation and wildfire mitigation efforts in our nation’s forests.
For more detailed information: Breaking Down the Inflation Reduction Act – NACD