American farmers have a pivotal role to play in tackling climate change, but they shouldn’t sacrifice their own livelihood in the process. RIPE100 is uniquely designed to ensure that climate policy will not hamper farmer profitability. It also rewards farmers $100 per acre for the larger public contributions they make when they implement conservation practices that provide water, soil, carbon and other environmental benefits.

RIPE 100 Primary Policy Principles

1. Allows producers to receive a reasonable return, with payment levels that surpass policy costs, including the full cost to implement voluntary stewardship practices plus indirect costs impacted by climate regulations such as higher fuel and fertilizer prices. This payment is $100 per acre for the pilot and first phase of the program.

2. Enables all farmers to participate with a farmer-friendly program that is simple and practical. The list of qualifying practices includes practical options, such as utilizing cover crops and nutrient management, on farms of all sizes and types. The simple enrollment program would not include ranked applications, ensuring all farmers can participate.

3. Rewards early adopters and demonstrates greenhouse gas “additionality,” allowing all farmers to be compensated for the environmental benefits they deliver regardless of when they adopted conservation practices.

4. Compensates voluntary stewardship at levels that align with the combined environmental values delivered, including mitigating climate change, conserving water and improving water quality, enhancing soil health, preserving biodiversity, protecting endangered species, mitigating floods and improving air quality.

5. Promotes equity and inclusion by addressing barriers that have often kept farmers of color, smaller diversified farmers, women farmers and beginning farmers from participating in agricultural programs.

6. Does not compete for funds against existing safety net programs. The program will be appropriated as part of new funding streams for climate change and environmental benefits, such as a new title in the Farm Bill or a climate bill. (A pilot or initial phase may be authorized and appropriated within standard funding vehicles.)

7. Complements existing markets and programs by allowing stacking payments up to the public value delivered by the practice. Program will leverage biofuel markets and other conservation programs and policies, such that producers may receive benefits from multiple programs so long as the total payment does not exceed the value the public receives from the practices.