GROWTH BY ASSOCIATION What I've Learned About the Carbon Market Since its inception, the Illinois Soybean Association’s (ISA) Agronomy Team has been hard at work navigating the numerous carbon market opportunities available to Illinois growers. While carbon programs are intriguing, it’s important to understand that many of the current mar- kets are still in early stages and growers shouldn’t jump headfirst into a program without first reading the fine print. Partners and organizations across the state are developing programs that help farmers maximize their opportunity to create additional rev- enue. Many of these programs remain in pilot stages, so are still being adjusted as they go through each field season. A lot of farmers have been using sustainable practices on their acres and have been stewards of the land for many years. We strive to make sure those conservation veterans are part of the conversation, and those growers are being rewarded for their efforts. We look to those farmers as great mentors to help us understand how these systems work, and to show other growers the benefits of conservation outside of carbon credit production. Regardless of the payment offered, or the amount of data a company needs for a particular program, it’s the soil that’s inevitably in control. A farm’s location, soil type, the cropping system used, and the farmer’s experience level are all factors to be considered by a farmer to use conservation practices to their advantage and create a system that’s resilient for their farm, as well as environmentally beneficial for their community. Gathering data required for enrollment can also be challenging, which is why we’re creating a data guidebook to help. Data is growing in importance, and it is necessary for farmers to prepare for any pro- gram, whether or not a farmer is interested in a carbon program. In a constantly evolving carbon market landscape with many un- knowns, we’re here to help you navigate. Here are a few tips our team recommends you keep in mind when considering participation in a carbon or ecosystem market program. • It’s probably too early to enroll the whole farm. Start by implement- ing a new practice on just a few fields at a time. • Be prepared with good conservation agronomy. Make sure you have access to a trusted conservation agronomist, whether it be your Specialist through the Precision Conservation Management program, the STAR program, your local Natural Resources Conservation Service, ILSoyAdvisor Soy Envoys, or your local Extension office. • Get your data ready. Records and data are the key to receiving the highest dollar for your work through these programs. 10 June 2022 ABIGAIL PETERSON | DIRECTOR OF AGRONOMY | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION • Appoint a carbon expert. Have someone your operation relies on to keep you up-to-date on carbon markets. • Understand your conservation goals. Carbon market financial mechanisms might not always be the best fit, so be sure to analyze your individual goals before committing. Keep your conservation goals at the forefront whether it be increasing crop diversity, reducing erosion, decreasing runoff, or others. Farmers can look to ISA, our friends at IL Corn, or the Illinois Sustain- able Ag Partnership for resources. You have a team available to you in- cluding myself and ISA Agronomy Managers, Megan Miller and Jennifer Jones. Our team works every day researching programs, fielding calls, and creating content through ILSoyAdvisor.com to help you be your most profitable and sustainable. Going back to the basics of soil science and nutrient cycling, we know that soil is a living ecosystem so it’s hard to see results quickly. But thanks to our team and farmer leaders, we know conservation prac- tices are effective. With their guidance and participation at the forefront of these conversations, ISA is advocating for farmers in industry discus- sions to ensure they are treated fairly.
