Carbon Farming: Stacking Payments from Private Initiatives and Federal Programs

Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission avoidance in working croplands are being intensely promoted as the stepping-stones toward climate-smart agriculture. They are closely related to agricultural conservation practices (such as cover crops, no-till, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and nutrient management), but they are not the same.

This report discusses the interaction between government programs and private voluntary carbon initiatives, provides examples on how financial incentives can be "stacked," and offers two simplified decision trees to help agricultural stakeholders make informed decisions about carbon farming.

Prepared by Oranuch Wongpiyabovorn, economics graduate research assistant
Alejandro Plastina, extension economist, 515-294-6160, plastina@iastate.edu

Oranuch Wongpiyabovorn

economics graduate research assistant
View more from this author

Alejandro Plastina

extension economist
515-294-6160
View more from this author