West Des Moines, Iowa-The new subsidiary set up by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to help agriculture across the country realize a new source of income through carbon sequestering and credit exchanging won’t be dealing with fertilizer credits – at least for now. “It’s one area that’s currently under review,” according to Dave Miller, IFBF director of research, who will serve as science officer for the newly formed AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. “There’s interest in what type of credits could come out of efficiency in nitrogen use.” Miller said the protocol, which is yet to be established, would depend on finding ways to quantify the mitigation of NOX emissions. But that doesn’t mean AgraGate, which grew out of IFBF’s experience with carbon offsets aggregation starting in 2003, won’t have plenty to do helping farmers, ranchers, and other landowners deal with the rapidly growing climate credit exchange arena. Those connected with AgraGate will be helping with such carbon-sequestering practices as continuously no-tilled fields and newly established grasslands, rangeland that’s been committed to an improvement program, managed reforestation or new plantings on forested land, and on-farm methane digesters. David Lyons, IFBS chief business development officer, said it’s a win-win for all involved. “Farmers, ranchers and foresters get a financial benefit while they’re doing the right thing by their land,” Lyons declared.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain