Overview
The Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri has been awarded a $25 million grant from USDA to lead the Missouri Climate-Resilient Crop and Livestock (CRCL) Project. The Missouri CRCL Project is led by the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri, in collaboration with 14 partners from across the state. This joint effort will increase access to technical assistance and resources to help farmers adopt climate-smart practices.
The Missouri CRCL Project promotes climate-smart practices that not only enhance productivity but also contribute to building soil health and sequestering soil carbon.
Over the course of five years, this project will assist Missouri producers by providing incentive payments that encourage the adoption of a wide range of climate-smart practices to create more resilient crop and livestock systems. To reach a wide range of farmers, we’re introducing eight tailored incentive payment initiatives outlined below.
Funding categories and amounts
In total, and over a span of five-years, the Missouri CRCL Project will deliver $17.5 million for incentive payments. Each practice will have a specific budget allocation for each year. For all practices, each farmer can only receive up to $10,000. per year, or $20,000 over the life of the project.
See below the total funding details for farmer incentive payments for each practice.
Soy-rye cover crop initiative: ($3.6 million in total funding)
Incentive payment for soybean producers to fall plant cereal rye prior to soybeans. Note: if you enroll in this practice, you can also stack a late termination and/or grazing practice.
Payment per acre: $30
Eligibility: If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: July 15 - September 1, 2023. Funding is first-come, first-served.
High biomass cover crop initiative: ($3 million in total funding)
Incentive payment for producers of corn, sorghum, cotton and other row crops to use a high-biomass cover crop mix that is fall planted, where at least three cover crop species are planted in the fall and with at least one being an overwintering species. Note that if you enroll in this practice, you can also stack a late termination and/or grazing practice.
Payment per acre: $40
Eligibility: If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: July 15 - September 1, 2023. Funding is first-come, first-served.
Late termination practice: ($1 million in total funding)
Supplementary incentive payment producers who do late termination, where a cover crop is left alive until planting a cash crop (e.g. planting green).
Payment per acre: $15
Eligibility: If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: July 15 - September 1, 2023. Funding is first-come, first-served.
Cover crop grazing: ($1.2 million in total funding)
Incentive payment for producers to graze livestock on cover crops.
Payment per acre: $20
Eligibility: If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: July 19 - August 31, 2023. Funding is first-come, first-served.
Regenerative grazing practice: ($5 million in total funding)
Incentive payment to implement regenerative grazing approaches with biodiverse forage species, managed intensive grazing, and low-cost watering and fencing approaches.
Payment per acre: $50 per acre
Eligibility: Must meet all baseline eligibility criteria (see above). If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: TBD
Grow your Edges – agroforestry: ($1 million in total funding)
Incentive payment for livestock producers to plant trees on pastures bordering woodlands to expand Missouri woodland area and provide share for livestock.
Payment per acre: $250
Eligibility:
Must meet all baseline eligibility criteria (see above).
Must confirm operational control for at least next 3 years.
If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: July 19 - August 31, 2023.
Nutrient management 4R and precision fertilizer program: ($1.2 million in total funding)
Incentive payment to implement appropriate nutrient management practices that include use of the 4R nutrient stewardship approach (right source, right rate, right time, and right place), precision application of fertilizers and manure, and split-nitrogen application in corn or other nitrogen-using crops.
Payment per acre: $20 per acre
Eligibility:Must meet all baseline eligibility criteria (see above). If you are currently enrolled in another financial incentive program - such as federal cost-share through EQIP or CSP - for this practice, you cannot apply for Missouri’s CRCL program for those same fields.
Sign-up Period: TBD
Climate-smart fieldscapes: ($1.5 million in total funding)
Incentive payment program for small and underserved farmers to implement climate-smart fieldscapes, comprised of at least three stacked climate-smart practices, that will also serve as demonstration sites. Participants will engage in virtual cohorts that a few times over the course of the 3 year contract.
Payment: flat rate of $10,000 spread out over 3 year-contract.
Eligibility:
Must meet all baseline eligibility criteria (see above).
Meet USDA’s definition of a small farmer. (Note: preference will be given to applicants who meet USDA’s definition of a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher, Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Veteran Farmers, and New and Beginning farmers
Have current access and operational control of at least 1/8 acre (5,445 square feet) of land dedicated to farming.
Have at least one year of experience farming OR are currently enrolled in a farm apprentice/training program
Willing to participate in cohort meetings (conducted virtually) for duration of 3-year contract. Cohort meetings will include 1 introduction meeting, quarterly check-in meetings, and 1 conclusion meeting.
Willing to participate in at least one demonstration activity (see section titled “Demonstration Activities” below for possible activities).
Sign-up Period: TBD, expected September 1-November 30
For information about the other incentive payment programs, visit https://cra.missouri.edu/mo-crcl/.
If you have any additional questions about this project you can send them to: [email protected]