Carbon Programs 101
Something went wrong. Please try again later...
By now, most farmers have heard about carbon programs but few have signed up. What’s holding them back? Surveys conducted across the industry – whether by Corteva, AgriPulse, Successful Farming or Purdue – confirm what we’ve known all along. Farmers still have plenty of questions about this evolving marketplace.
We’ve got answers, starting with the questions we hear most.
What’s an agriculture carbon program and how does it work?
Corporations face increasing pressure from investors, employees and customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To offset their pollution, these companies purchase carbon credits as a way to “make up” for their emissions today, and agriculture is one of the avenues to do that.
Carbon programs help farmers generate carbon credits from implementing soil health practices that sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and into their soil. These practices include cover cropping and reduced tillage.
This simple overview shows how it works:
How does a farmer earn carbon credits?
By introducing soil health practices, a farmer can “sequester” or capture CO2 from the atmosphere into the soil and/or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. For every 1 metric ton of carbon sequestration or emissions reductions, a farmer earns 1 carbon credit. Your carbon sequestration, or carbon yield, is measured by the eligible practice(s) you choose and data-driven models that predict soil carbon based on soil type and sampling, and weather data
What’s the role of a company like Corteva Agriscience in a carbon market?
Imagine the time, effort, and science needed to generate and sell a carbon credit. To get paid, farmers must measure their carbon sequestration rates field by field, certify their credits with regulatory bodies, and then negotiate credit prices with individual companies.
Corteva helps farmers click the “easy button” on carbon by acting as an aggregator — helping you access a carbon credit marketplace while building trust among buyers that they’re purchasing premium, certified credits.
How does Corteva’s carbon program work?
The Climate Action Reserve is an independent nonprofit that establishes strict standards for quantifying and certifying GHG emissions reduction projects to ensure the integrity, transparency, and financial value in the North American carbon market.
Get All the Facts on Carbon
Dig deeper into the facts on carbon markets – from whether a carbon program makes sense for you to knowing what questions to ask before you sign a contract – with our Carbon Resource Guide, available online or through this downloadable PDF.
Do you have specific questions about your operation and eligibility for a carbon program? Click here and we’ll connect you with a carbon expert.
The More You Grow
Find expert insights on agronomics, crop protection, farm operations and more.
What to Look for in a Carbon Contract
Not sure which carbon program to trust? Here are 6 features to look for in any carbon contract.