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Carbon Farm Planning differs from other approaches to land use planning by focusing on increasing the capacity of the working farm or ranch to capture atmospheric carbon and store it beneficially; in the crop, as standing carbon stocks in permanent vegetation, and/or as soil organic matter (CCI 2016). A Carbon Farm Plan is a living document designed to explore how producers can increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through implementing conservation and supporting practices that have soil health, farm resilience, and carbon benefits. Before beginning the carbon farm planning process for your farm or ranch, it is important to have a basic understanding of the background and planning tools available to support the work.
Three Stages of Writing a Carbon Farm Plan
Three Stages of Writing a Carbon Farm Plan
Carbon Cycle Institute Field Day (Photo take pre-COVID-19 pandemic)
Planning Stage 1 - Pre Planning
Planning Stage 1 - Pre Planning
Planning Stage 1
Planning Stage 1
In planning stage one, you begin working with the producer or land manager to schedule initial field visits, establish team roles, develop a project timeline and review resources available to facilitate the development of the carbon farm plan.
This planning stage is intended to help the planning team stay on track; it may or may not include all the steps outlined below, or in the sequence shown.
Carbon Cycle Institute Field Day (Photo take pre-COVID-19 pandemic)
Planning Stage 2 - Writing Your Plan
Planning Stage 2 - Writing Your Plan
Planning Stage 2: Writing the Carbon Farm Plan
Planning Stage 2: Writing the Carbon Farm Plan
Writing the Carbon Farm Plan requires producer engagement, including producer information about the operation and a record of producer goals. The plan should include an introduction to the Carbon Farm Planning process to provide readers, the producer, and funding sources with a basic understanding of the process.
Like an NRCS Conservation Plan, the plan should include background on the operation, such as environmental conditions, baseline soil analysis data if available, and identification of the producer's goals and objectives. In addition, the CFP will include quantitative estimates of the greenhouse gas reduction/carbon sequestration benefits of the recommended carbon farming practices, using the COMET-Tools and/or other models as appropriate. These data should be compiled into tables and graphs to include within, or as appendices to, the plan.
Planning Stage 3 - Wrap Up
Planning Stage 3 - Wrap Up
Planning Stage 3: Wrap Up
Planning Stage 3: Wrap Up
When the draft of the plan is near completion and has been reviewed by the producer, it is important to develop a project implementation timeline, identifying the producer's priority practices and potential funding sources. As stated throughout this curriculum, a carbon farm plan should be viewed as a living document, and should evolve as new information, tools, and funding sources become available.
Carbon Farm Planning Guidance
Carbon Farm Planning Guidance
The Carbon Cycle Institute developed the guidance document below to provide a framework for new carbon farm planners. The document includes details on the three stages of carbon farm planning noted above, and an outline of a completed Carbon Farm Plan. When you have browsed the guidance document, you may want to refer to the Carbon Farm Plan case studies in Module 3.
CCI CFP Guidance Document.pdfReturn to
Discussion board: If you have any questions throughout Module 2, please use the discussion board below to post.
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