Agriculture represents one of the most cost-effective ways to improve two of our most pressing environmental challenges: water quality and climate change. Our goal is to help farmers and ranchers play a major role in improving our environment while also expanding their sources of revenue. Our Agriculture & Environment Initiative is:

Finding Solutions

Protecting Water Quality

Addressing Climate Change

Implementing Conservation Practices

Shaping Federal Policies for Clean Water & Air

Learn About the Issues 

• 25x'25 Alliance Adaptation Work Group—Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: Adaptation Recommendations
• Farm Bill Status Report: How Has Conservation Fared? [PDF]
• Webinars on 2012 BMP Challenge Enrollment
• Find out what we are doing to influence federal policy in the 2012 Farm Bill.
• Video: The Benefits of Conservation Practices on Farms
• Testimony to U.S. House on Water Resources and Federal Regulation
• Guide to Environmental Markets for Farmers and Ranchers
• Our Integrated Pest Management work is helping reduce highly toxic pesticides and fertilizer.
• Pew study confirms that including farmers and ranchers in climate change legislation can benefit agriculture, society
  See the Report
• Preliminary Analysis of Utility-Only Cap Climate Bills [Bingaman & Kerry/Lieberman]
• Clean Energy Legislation Has Potential for Long-Term Benefits to Farmers
  See the Report

Farmers and Ranchers Making a Difference

Millions of New York City residents have clean drinking water, thanks to help from healthy farms in the Catskill Mountains and farmers like Tom Hutson. Hutson was one of the first farmers to participate in programs to reduce organic pollution in the Catskill/ Delaware reservoir systems. More Success Stories