Module 1:

What is Carbon Farming?

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

1.2 What is Carbon Farming?

All farming is carbon farming! Carbon enters the farm from the atmosphere through plant photosynthesis, and ends up in one of three places:

Harvested portion of the crop;
In or on soil as organic matter or plant and animal residue; (we will discuss this further throughout module 1)
Standing carbon stocks on the farm.

Scroll through the carousel on the right to investigate each of these carbon capture opportunities.

Photo by Ellie Ellis at Colorado State University.

All farming is completely dependent upon atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to produce its products. Different farming practices and farm designs can lead to different amounts of carbon capture (and loss) on the farm. Carbon farming involves implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and converted to plant biomass and/or soil organic matter (SOM). 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, improving farm resilience to weather extremes, and mitigating climate change. We will discuss this further in the next section and throughout Module 1.

What is a Carbon Farm Plan?

A carbon farm plan (CFP) is the product of a whole farm planning approach to optimize carbon capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon farm plan is a living document, and is expected to evolve to meet the needs of the producer over time. The CFP should be updated as the plan is implemented and evaluated over time, and as new information and practices become available to the producer.

The Carbon Cycle Institute has developed a Carbon Farm Planning framework, as presented throughout this curriculum. This guidance is meant to closely parallel the NRCS Conservation Planning Process and support Carbon Farm Planners in developing a Carbon Farm Plan within the Conservation Planning framework. Organizing the conservation planning process around carbon offers the planner a powerful tool for identifying impactful conservation practices and positioning the farm plan as a tool to support farm adaptation and resilience in the face of challenges presented by a changing climate. The plan may also serve as a means of documenting and quantifying the greenhouse gas benefits of conservation practices planned and/or implemented on farm.

A full outline of an example carbon farm plan is included in the next module, but some key components of a carbon farm plan include: assessment, inventory, communication, and prioritization.

❓When implemented, a successful carbon farm plan can support multiple on-farm benefits. Test your knowledge by trying to match the carbon farming co-benefit to the potential long term management cost reduction:

Co-Benefit

Improved soil health

Increased biodiversity

Improved resilience to environmental stress

Management Savings

Reduced fertilizer inputs due to improved nutrient cycling

Reduced crop damage due to drought or flooding

Pest management savings

Carbon farm planning can also contribute to reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through implementation of conservation practices whose benefits can be quantified using existing models, like those underlying the COMET-Tools.

Before you begin writing a Carbon Farm Plan, it is important to have an understanding of the ecological significance of carbon in the farm landscape, the tools available to build your own toolbox to create a successful plan, and the framework for developing a plan. By engaging in this Carbon Farm Planning Curriculum, you are taking the first step to developing your own plan.

Module 1 of this curriculum will primarily focus on answering the following pre-planning questions:

What is carbon farming?
What is a carbon farm plan?
Why write a carbon farm plan?
Why carbon farming?

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What is Carbon Farm Planning?

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