FA1-1 Collaborate with partners to improve data on existing regenerative practices within the community. Identify existing agricultural practices using a combination of currently available data from state and federal agencies and strategic surveys to local farmers. This action should focus on establishing a baseline as well as identify farmers who can serve as Champion Farmers supporting farmer-to-farmer network mentorship.
FA1-2 Collaborate with partners and consultants to support farmers in soil health assessment for implementation of best management practices that optimize the efficiency of fertilizer use.
FA1-3 Collaborate with partners and advocate for the development of a carbon credit program to compensate farmers for demonstrating increases in carbon sequestration.
FA1-4 Collaborate with partners including US DOE Hydrogen Hubs (Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen and Heartland Hydrogen Hub) to identify opportunities to increase availability and use of Green Fertilizers throughout Kane County. Green Fertilizers are produced with renewable electricity, green hydrogen (hydrogen produced through renewable electricity), or green ammonia (ammonia produced through renewable electricity)
FA1-5 Promote the adoption of low-emissions, carbon positive, sequestration, and ecosystem-service beneficial practices through education and/or incentives, with incentives focused on equity. Collaborate with partners to develop or expand on informational materials outlining low-emissions, carbon positive, sequestration, and ecosystem-service beneficial practices that can be used in the community and the area's range of cropping contexts (e.g., for corn, soybean, vegetables, etc.).
FA1-6 Collaborate with partners to work with local farmers to promote the use of regenerative agriculture systems (e.g., no-till practices, perennial groundcover, alley cropping, silvopasture, succession planting, rotational grazing practices, etc) through incentives, workshops, and demonstration projects in order to increase carbon sequestration on farmland while also improving soil health and increasing resilience to climate impacts such as drought and flooding.
FA1-7 Work with local farmers, ranchers, and land managers to promote and increase carbon-smart practices to increase carbon sequestration on agricultural lands. Develop a program by 2024 that, through targeted outreach, provides carbon sequestration education and resources to relevant stakeholders (e.g., farmers, ranchers, and land managers). The program will focus on educating stakeholders about the co-benefits of implementing carbon sequestration practices and the variety of financial and technical resources that are or may become available to assist farmers and ranchers in implementation. This program may be coordinated with industry groups and non-profits.
FA1-8 Continue and expand work with agricultural organizations to create an outreach program with educational resources to inform and encourage community farmers and other stakeholders to adopt practices to reduce nitrogen fertilizer, increase crop diversity, and improve soil health and soil organic matter while ensuring fair incomes for farmers (such as perennial groundcover, rotational grazing systems, and other natural approaches).
