Carbon smart programming

Joel Larson

Given the shifting landscape of carbon markets, UMN Extension sees a need to provide farmers and their advisors a better science-based understanding of soil carbon. While many proposed markets include overblown expectations of soil carbon increases, there are many co-benefits to using soil health practices that farmers should be aware of. We propose to provide basic education on carbon cycling in the soil and the effects of specific practices on soil carbon in order to help farmers make decisions about whether and how to enter carbon markets. In addition, we will describe the other improved soil functions farmers can look forward to upon implementation of soil health practices.

Carbon Smart will host and/or present 5-10 in-person and virtual events at events such as the Soil Management Summit, BWSR Academy, Soil Organic Matter workshops, Midwest Soil Health Summit, and the NRCS Tech meeting. In addition to the Carbon Smart educational program, we will organize a tillage field day located in Western MN, publish online and print materials, and leverage additional platforms to share this information with MCGA members. We have found that blending farmer experience, academic research, and equipment and crop services, gives a complete look at soil management that will benefit farmers’ bottom line and reduce soil erosion.