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Module 1 Outline:
Module 1 Outline:
Introduction to the Carbon Farming and the Planning Process
Role of Carbon in Climate Change & Improving Resilience
Role of Carbon in Agriculture & Soil Health
Carbon & The Principles of Healthy Soils
Carbon Farming on Your Farm
What is Carbon Farming?
What is Carbon Farming?
All farming is carbon farming. Carbon enters the farm from the atmosphere and ends up in one of three carbon capture opportunities:
Harvested portion of the crop: A portion of the crop is removed either for harvest or through livestock grazing
Living matter: Carbon is stored in the soil as soil organic matter, in plants, animals, and soil microbes as part of their biomass, and residue either excreted from the plant and animal or their detritus.
Standing or perennial plantings: This can be as perennial crops or permanent vegetation such as windbreaks, shelterbelts, or riparian vegetation. This image demonstrates a silvopasture where trees have been established. Beyond the co-benefits of providing shade and improving the microclimate for livestock, establishing trees incorporates permanent carbon additions to this pasture.
NRCS Washington. Photo by Ron Nichols.
Photo by Ellie Ellis at Colorado State University.
All farming is completely dependent upon atmospheric carbon dioxide in order to produce its products. Different farming practices and farm designs can lead to different amounts of carbon capture on the farm. Carbon farming involves implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the atmosphere and converted to plant and/or soil organic matter. Carbon farming practices are known to not only improve the rate of carbon sequestration, but also demonstrate several co-benefits such as improving soil health and agricultural productivity, and improving resilience and mitigating climate change. We will discuss this further in the next section and throughout Module 1.
Check your knowledge!
Check your knowledge!
Select which of the following statements explains why “All farming is considered carbon farming"
a. All producers implement carbon farming practices
b. All plants (i.e. crops, trees, shrubs) convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into byproducts through photosynthesis
c. All plants (i.e. crops, trees, shrubs) convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into byproducts through cellular respiration
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