Mike Pearson takes a look at a partnership for Climate Smart Commodity Grants– a series of grants available through the USDA to farmers who develop new growing strategies. The program has been contentious but they are also starting to bare fruit.
One project is in the Mid-South and includes 700 acres of rice. PJ Haynie, of the National Black Growers Association, is growing rice with few inputs as part of the pilot program under the USDA. The idea is to develop growing methods using less water for rice– which can be scarce.
There are seven states in the United States that grow rice.
