Policy & Advocacy
Photo Credit: Stoneboat Farm by Jamie Thrower
Advancing Institutionalized Support for Soil Health and Climate Resilience
OrCAN is working to create systemic change by advocating for strong policy to advance soil health and climate resilience on Oregon's farms and ranches. We do so by engaging with farmers and ranchers in every step of the process.
Our historic advocacy wins:
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$10 million for Oregon’s Natural Climate Solutions Funds, providing financial incentives and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for the adoption of natural climate solutions, including soil health practices. This funding launched the state’s first grant program providing payment for agricultural practices carbon sequestration benefits.
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$2.6 million for Oregon’s Farmer and Rancher Disaster Resilience Grants which OrCAN helped develop, funding projects and practices that make farms and ranches more resilient to climate impacts such as heat, smoke and drought.
We bring farmers’ climate resilience into policy conversations and decisions at the state and federal levels, advocating for financial incentives and programs to support soil health and climate resilience on Oregon’s farms and ranches.
As these policies and programs are developed and implemented we do our best to ensure they advance soil health, are practical for farmers, and support an equitable food system.
Current projects:
We’re engaging in the Governor’s Plan for a Resilient Oregon, a people-centered resilience strategy to help communities around Oregon adapt and thrive in the face of increasingly more severe disasters. We advise on the State’s work to advance natural climate solutions in Oregon in our role on the Oregon Climate Action Commission's Natural and Working Lands Advisory Committee.
And we’re planning for the 2027 Legislative Session, where our highest policy priority will be advocating for renewal of Oregon’s Farmer and Rancher Disaster Resilience Grants.
Join us!
Use our Network Engagement Survey to sign up for updates or let us know how you’d like to be involved.
If you have questions or concerns about our policy priorities, please contact Sophie at: sophie (at) oregonclimateag.org