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Farmers Union, Iowa Farm Bureau programs offer WKS options.

April 19, 2007

2 Min Read

The Carbon Credit Pilot Project that had been only available to farmers in eastern Kansas and part of central Kansas has now been expanded into the remainder of central Kansas and on into the western part of the state. The project, offered by the Chicago Climate Exchange, has expanded its enrollment area into all of central and western Kansas.

Both the Iowa Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union are accepting contracts for eligible conservation tillage acres in western Kansas.

The Carbon Credit Program places some limits on eligible crops and crop management, as well as defining equipment that can be used on those acres and farm practices. Because of the many details and stipulations connected with the Carbon Credit program, producers need to review the proposed contract in detail. Producers can sign a contract for the CCX program through either the National Farmers Union or the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Producers in eastern Kansas counties are now eligible for a carbon credit of six-tenths of a metric ton of carbon dioxide per acre per year for conservation tillage. In the central part of the state, producers are eligible for a carbon credit of four-tenths of a metric ton of carbon dioxide per acre per year for conservation tillage on dryland acres. Irrigated acres in central Kansas are eligible for six-tenths of a metric ton per acre carbon credit.

In western Kansas, farmers are eligible for a carbon credit of two-tenths of a metric ton of Carbon Dioxide per acre per year for conservation tillage on dryland acres, and six-tenths of a metric ton per acre per year on irrigated acres. All of these eligibility standards are for the period from 2006 to 2010.

Other key general changes to the CCX carbon credit program also were announced. CCX will no longer accept new contract enrollments on acres that use ridge-till practices, although current ridge-till contracts will be honored through the end of 2010. Also, CCX will no longer issue carbon credits on row crop land where the crop residue has been removed, such as by making silage, straw baling, burning, baling of corn stalks, and similar practices. However, that does not include alfalfa and grass hay, or grass pasturing.

Current prices on the Chicago Climate Exchange are averaging about $3.50 per metric ton of Carbon Dioxide equivalent.

Additional detailed information is available from the following sources:
General Information: soilcarboncenter.k-state.edu  
www.chicagoclimateexchange.com  

Kansas Farmers Union Donn Teske, 620-241-6630
[email protected]  
nfu.org/issues/environment/carbon-credits  


Iowa Farm Bureau David Miller, 515-225-5430
[email protected]  
www.iowafarmbureau.com/special/carbon/default.aspx

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