Press Release
☷USDA Celebrates 10 Years of Climate Hubs as Biden Harris Administration Leads Historic Climate Agenda
U.S. Department of Agriculture ( By Press Release office)
Feb 07,2024
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Today marks the 10 - year anniversary of the creation of the U . S . Department of Agriculture ' s ( USDA ) regional Climate Hubs . These hubs were established to help farmers , ranchers , and rural communities make informed decisions in the face of climate change . Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is highlighting how these regional climate centers , along with President Biden ' s climate agenda , are helping agricultural producers and communities address climate threats . The Climate Hubs are an important part of USDA ' s efforts to tackle climate change , with investments of $19 . 5 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act and $1 billion to combat extreme heat and climate change . Vilsack emphasized the need for science - based climate information and assistance in the face of increasing climate risks . The Climate Hubs , which started with 10 regional locations , now form a network of over 120 climate researchers and communicators who work with USDA agencies and partners to support climate - informed decisions . These hubs collaborate with international partners and aim to improve the world ' s ability to adapt to and mitigate climate change . We ' re all about speeding up the development of cool science - based solutions . Like , for instance , the Northwest Climate Hub helped update and expand the Seedlot Selection Tool to help forest managers pick the right seeds for planting based on climate . We also want to give communities the info they need to deal with climate change . The Southwest Climate Hub teamed up with Indigenous farmers and ranchers to help them adapt to drought and climate change in agriculture . And we ' re all about working with farmers , ranchers , and foresters to help them manage their land in a sustainable way using climate - informed solutions . The Midwest Climate Hub ' s Soil Temperature Climatology Tool helps farmers keep track of changing soil temperatures , which helps them know when to plant . We ' re also big on equity and access to programs , just like President Biden ' s Justice40 Initiative . We ' re all about helping communities become more resilient to extreme weather events and providing resources to increase food security and support mental health . We work with Alaska Natives , Indigenous Peoples , Native Americans , and Tribal Nations to provide region - specific info and tech to help with climate decision - making . Some cool projects we ' re working on include strengthening climate resilience in Native American communities and educating forest owners and practitioners about climate - smart forestry . And our Caribbean Climate Hub is there to support agricultural and forest managers in Puerto Rico and the U . S . Virgin Islands , in both English and Spanish . Basically , climate change affects different regions in the U . S . in different ways , so we ' re here to help farmers , ranchers , and foresters understand those unique impacts and provide tools and technology to help them adapt and keep their land productive . The Inflation Reduction Act , part of President Biden ' s Investing in America agenda , gave farmers , ranchers , and forest landowners $19 . 5 billion to support climate - smart activities . USDA is leading the way in using top - notch science , research , and conservation tools to help with implementation . On top of that , USDA is teaming up with organizations to expand climate markets through the Partnerships for Climate - Smart Commodities program , which has $3 . 1 billion in funding . USDA does a lot of good things that touch the lives of all Americans every day . Under the Biden - Harris administration , we ' re making big changes to America ' s food system . We ' re focusing on resilient local and regional food production , promoting fair markets for all producers , making sure everyone has access to safe and healthy food , creating new income opportunities for farmers and producers using climate - smart practices , investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy , and working towards equity across USDA by breaking down barriers and building a more diverse workforce . Check out www . usda . gov to learn more . We ' re still all about applied science and synthesis , outreach and education , tools and technology to help USDA and its stakeholders deal with climate risks and impacts . If you want more info on what the Climate Hubs are up to and the resources they offer , check out the USDA Climate Hubs website .
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