| |
What's In A Carbon Credit? | |
| |
From the Nov. 3, 2008 Issue of Agri-News | |
|
| |
|
|
| |
“To most farmers, talk about climate change, global warming and greenhouse gas emissions might seem to be just hot air from environmental activists and politicians,” says Ron Heller, Reduced Tillage LINKAGES, Vermilion.
Although the science behind greenhouse gas (GHG) issues cannot yet accurately measure net emissions, the main agricultural focus has been on how much and when various farm practices influence the carbon (C) flux associated with three culprit gases: nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The majority of predictable agricultural greenhouse gases are linked to livestock, manure, and fertilizer – three very specific operations with risks and rewards for Alberta farm managers.
“While carbon stewardship directly benefits farmers, it’s not a simple cheque in the mail,” says Heller. “Governments don’t yet agree how to quantify or allocate carbon removal and reduction credits. The missing link in carbon trading appears to be deciding on a value for carbon as a commodity. Contract offers and verification between eager buyers and willing sellers remains very intricate and cautious.”
“As a reduced tillage agronomist I feel agriculture is actually in an enviable position with regards to carbon stewardship,” says Heller. “That’s because investment today in beneficial management practices (BMP) will pay dividends in the future.”
Some practical ways prairie farmers can reduce on-farm GHG:
- soil test to match crop nutrient requirements
- apply nitrogen fertilizer in the spring rather than in the fall
- use rotational grazing and grow more perennial forage
- eliminate tillage-fallow (bare soil)
- switch to direct seeding (no-till)
“These methods not only lower GHG emissions but, more importantly, tend to improve a producer’s input efficiencies and profit potential,” says Heller. “In other words, good stewardship pays even if the actual carbon payback so far is small.”
Additionally, several of these management changes now qualify farmers in Alberta as providers of marketable carbon credits to offset industrial GHG liability, where agricultural land use is now recognized for carbon storage.
Soil carbon amounts differ significantly by soil zone and climate. However, individual farm and field practices such as reduced tillage and dynamic crop rotations can increase soil carbon.
“However, these practices must be appealing and make economic sense for the current occupants of our farmland, not just for future generations,” says Heller.
To try and help producers better understand some of these issues surrounding carbon trading, a series of workshops for producers will be looking at the opportunities and risks of carbon trading. Dates and locations are as follows:
- November 14 in Lethbridge
- November 21 in Fairview
- November 25 in Camrose
- November 26 in Westlock
Registration cost is $30 per person, and includes a lunch and a resource package. Call 1-866-609-2700 register. Space is limited so register as early as possible.
The following sites are useful sources of information on climate change, carbon trading, and beneficial agricultural practices that mitigate green house gas emissions:
Contact: Ron Heller 780-853-8262
The contents of this page are no longer available.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This document is maintained by Ada Serafinchon.
This information published to the web on October 29, 2008.
|
|