Carbon Counting on the Farm
Summary
More recently in the GRACEnet program, a network of scientists at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service have been developing standard ways of evaluating and reporting both carbon sequestration from farming practices and reduced emissions from efficient fertilizer management. Last spring’s request for public input on USDA’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry initiative generated over 2,000 responses, 500 coming from groups and association. Verification Models California’s Air Resources Board has begun allowing some biofuel producers to demonstrate their feedstock supplies to achieve better-than-average carbon intensity, says Kari Buttenhoff, director of the compliance program and a partner at Christianson PLLP. “There is going to be increased demand to provide quality attributes around the environmental impact of animal protein products.” That, in turn, may broaden the focus of CI reduction efforts from just western-facing producers to eastern Corn Belt suppliers to poultry and swine feed markets. As Poet sets out to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 (see news on page 14), Berven expects the company to expand the Gradable program to more facilities, as soon as approvals are in place.