The American Lamb Board (ALB) is offering grants for 150 sheep producers to participate in its Climate Smart Sheep program.

Producers enrolled in the program will be paid up to $7,000 to develop and implement Climate Smart Sheep management practices and measure and report emissions and life cycle analysis. Examples of Climate Smart practices to be implemented include prescribed grazing, cover crop planting, range planting, tree or shrub enhancement, silvopasture, cross-fencing and brush and pest (weed) management.

Producers will work with a technical assistance provider to establish operational plans, implement recommended changes and organize farm data necessary to estimate emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator developed by Michigan State University and ALB. Along with the on-farm portion of the program, Climate Smart Sheep utilizes a USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Grant to quantify the impacts of targeted sheep grazing at four universities on four sites in California, Texas, Montana and North Carolina. The university studies will monitor the impact of prescribed sheep grazing related to carbon sequestration, soil health, and other ecosystem factors. At least one site will be a solar grazing site.

ALB Sustainability Director Camren Maierle, PhD, leads the organization’s research and producer education initiatives, including developing and maintaining a nationally recognized solar grazing education program, cultivating other contract grazing opportunities, and working with industry partners to improve American Lamb sustainability. Maierle will also manage many aspects of the Climate Smart grant.

The producer program application can be found online at LambBoard.com. The application period ends on December 1. Accepted producers will be notified by December 15, and the program will begin on January 1, 2025.