A Farmer led Coalition, called RIPE, that’s Rural Investment to Protect our Environment has been formed and is seeking to get farmers rewarded for voluntary stewardship through the RIPE 100 plan. The non profit RIPE group is looking to pay farmers $100 an acre for the conservation practices. Brandon Hunnicutt who farms in Nebraska Co-Chairs the RIPE steering committee says the key is to incentivize producers to reach sustainability and climate change goals.

He says the more stakeholders they can get involved in this project the better.

Hunnicutt says each farmer needs to explore how being sustainable can benefit their own operations and the best way to get there.

He says farming practices work differently in each area so one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to putting in the best practices to reach climate goals.