USDA to promote “green” markets

Carbon-trading, a boon for dairy farmers with environmentally friendly protocols, will get a shot in the arm from the new USDA Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets.

According to USDA, agriculture producers provide many ecosystem services which have historically been viewed as free benefits to society — clean water and air, wildlife habitat, carbon storage and scenic landscapes.

Lacking a formal structure to market these services, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are not generally compensated for providing these critical public benefits.

So, the idea is to promote ecosystem markets. Market-based approaches to conservation have proven to be a cost-effective method to achieve environmental goals and sustain working and natural landscapes.

Source: USDA, Drovers

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