Considering Carbon: Opportunities and Challenges Agriculture Faces in the Climate Debate

Topic:

Almost every month, companies of various sizes across many industries announce new sustainability commitments and programs that farmers and ranchers can participate in. Advancements in technology and increased capital have expanded opportunities for farmers and ranchers to generate revenue via these emerging sustainability markets. But with so many options and potential partners, it may be difficult to get all the information you need to sign a contract.

This webinar will discuss how policy initiatives and collaboration through broad coalitions brought agriculture to this point, explain what agriculture ecosystem credit markets are and why they’re emerging so strongly now. We will also explore the early market participants and when and where projects are taking place and discuss contract expectations.

Join Andrew Walmsley and Shelby Swain Myers, representatives from American Farm Bureau, for this webinar.

 

Time and Date:

   

 Wednesday, April 21, 2021

12:00 – 1:00 (EST)

11:00 – 12:00 (CST)

Participation:

This webinar was recorded on April 21, 2021. To view a recording of this webinar, click here.

Presenters:

Andrew Walmsley joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2011 as Director, Congressional Relations.  In addition to leading the farm policy team, Andrew is charged with managing energy, climate, transportation, and biotechnology issues for Farm Bureau. His work has included regulatory relief for farmers and ranchers along with securing Farm Bureau priorities in multiple pieces of legislation that were eventually enacted into law.  Because of this work, he has been named a ‘Top Lobbyist’ by The Hill.

Andrew has held multiple leadership roles around Washington D.C. He currently chairs the Farmers for a Sustainable Future Coalition, is a founding member of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance and has served as chairman of the Agricultural Biotech Alliance, as a steering committee member of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, the Rail Customer Coalition and as an advisor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on their Energy, Clean Air & Natural Resources Committee.

Before joining the American Farm Bureau Federation, he worked for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Andrew is a sixth-generation Floridian and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Operations Management.

Shelby Swain Myers is an Economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation with a focus on crop markets, farm policy, and sustainability markets. She and the rest of the economics team are responsible for tracking markets and examining the impact of various legislative and regulatory initiatives on agriculture. Shelby earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, with a research emphasis on agriculture policy and a thesis analyzing the Farm Bill.  Before joining AFBF, Shelby spent four years on the Public Policy Team at Indiana Farm Bureau and had internship experiences with Purdue Extension and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

In September of 2019, Shelby was appointed by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to serve on the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers and she is currently the vice-chair. She additionally serves as an advisor for her sorority, Sigma Kappa, at Purdue University, and is a 4-H volunteer following her participation as a 10-year member.  Though currently living in Washington, D.C., Shelby and her husband, Isaac, are still engaged on the family farm in New Richmond, IN where they raise corn and soybeans with beef cattle and custom sweet corn for a local distillery.

Research & Materials:

Presentation Slides – Andrew Walmsley

Presentation Slides – Shelby Myers