What crop rotation practice changes qualify for carbon credits
by Johanna Cohen
Explore crop rotation practice changes including what qualifies, agronomic benefits, and carbon credit potential.
Diversifying your cash crop rotation is beneficial for soil health and adds a new source of farm income. There is a singular rotation practice change that qualifies for the Carbon by Indigo program to earn income with carbon credits.
Add an eligible cash crop
Practice change: Add a new crop to the rotation while not increasing the annual fallow period by greater than 30 days. See eligible crops.
Examples of qualifying scenarios:
- A grower who is growing continuous corn can become eligible by switching to a corn/soy rotation, even if their growing season for soybeans is 2 weeks shorter than for corn.
- A soybean-corn grower wants to add winter wheat into their rotation. In this example, the annual fallow period of a wheat crop (~August-October) is less than the annual fallow period of corn/soy (November-April). Therefore, the total annual fallow period does not increase by more than 30 days. Note: In this scenario, the fallow period following wheat is ideal for cover crops leading into the next spring crop (i.e., corn or soybeans).
Agronomic benefits: Increasing cash crop diversity breaks patterns of plant disease and pests while also providing nutrients for the next crop.
Recommendation: Adding a new cash crop to your rotation increases soil pore structure, which increases the soil’s carbon storage capacity and carbon sequestration. Although it’s a lower earning credit generation practice, it’s a great first step to participate in the Carbon program while helping to diversify farm income. Whether you’re new to carbon farming or deep into it and your other practice changes no longer qualify, this practice change could offer a good solution for you. To discuss this practice change with a carbon farming expert, chat with an expert using the box in the bottom right corner of your screen.
Start diversifying farm income
Diversifying farm income through adding another cash crop to your rotation mitigates risk on your operation. Learn more about how carbon farming reduces risk.
By Johanna Cohen - Product Marketer for Sustainability Products at Indigo
Citations
-https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2019/new-paper-points-to-soil-pore-structure-as-key-to-carbon-storage/
This article may include information from third-party sources or other information that Indigo may not independently verify. Carbon quantification methods, processes and understandings are in their nascency and subject to change and continuous development. The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and may be based on generally applicable assumptions that may not be applicable to any individual operation. Actual results may differ among growers and farms based on a large number of variables. Each operation should independently consider the financial implications and all potential risks and benefits of the use of any agronomic practice. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Neither Indigo nor its representatives or affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific outcomes (agronomic, financial or otherwise) in connection with any recommendations, calculations or predictions. Terms, conditions, limitations and eligibility requirements apply. See program agreement for additional details regarding Carbon by Indigo.
Farmers like you are getting paid to implement practices that improve soil health. With skyrocketing input costs, see how covers help.
You might also be interested in:
Neither Indigo nor any of its affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific results or outcomes, including, without limitation, with respect to soil health outcomes or any minimum amount of greenhouse gasses sequestered or number of carbon credits generated. Participation in Carbon by Indigo is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the program contained in the applicable enrollment agreement. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Not available in all areas.
500 Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129 | 844.828.0240 | info@indigoag.com