Practices & Equipment

tractor

There is a range of scientifically accepted practices to achieve healthy soils and carbon sequestration.  This section will detail practices to be used on the land to  achieve healthy soils and the equipment that will help implement them.  The practices will vary based upon the ecosystem to which they apply (e.g., grazing, cultivated agriculture, forestry, or other landscapes).  There’s an in-depth article HERE

PRACTICES

The Oregon Global Warming Commission (OGWC) began work on natural climate solutions for Oregon’s natural and working lands several years ago. That work was captured in a comprehensive policy document, Natural and Working Lands Proposal” (2021).

Oregon Global Warming Commission

The OGWC* worked in coordination with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to develop and submit the proposal for setting a carbon sequestration and storage goal for Oregon’s natural and working lands.

*In 2023 the Oregon Legislature changed the name of the Commission to the Oregon Climate Action Commission (OCAC).

In September 2023, following the work of the Commission’s advisory committee and a group of technical committees, the Commission commissioned  a new document outlining practices to implement portions of the earlier policy document: A Roadmap to Enhance Carbon Sequestration and Storage and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Oregon’s Natural  Working Lands.”  That report will be linked here when available by the end of September. 

AGRICULTURAL CARBON PROGRAMS

Agricultural Carbon Programs: From Program Chaos to Systems Change, the American Farmland Trust in coordination with Sierra View Solutions, analyze the current state of agricultural carbon programs and recommended strategic changes toward program success with a focus on cropland.

OREGON’S LAND USE STATUTES

Oregon’s Land Use Statues Laws and Rules – Protection of our valued natural resource lands for agriculture, forestry and other land management needs provides the basis for promoting carbon sequestration by protecting these lands from development. See statewide goals.

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

NRCS has been working with farmers and ranchers since its inception as a federal agency in 1935 following the historic ravages of the dust bowl days. NRCS provides technical services through a myriad of programs to combat climate change impacts.

These programs are now part of “climate-smart” management practices for which the agency provides technical services.

Highlighted activities have been added to the list in FY2024.

*Noted activities are added to the list as “provisional.”[1]


Mitigation Categories [5]


Code

Conservation Practice  Standard Name[2] [3] (practice unit)


Code

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Enhancement Activities

Soil Health

327

Conservation Cover (acres)

E327A

Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects[2]

E327B

Establish Monarch butterfly habitat

328

Conservation Crop Rotation (acres)

E328A

Resource conserving crop rotation

E328B

Improved resource conserving crop rotation

E328E

Soil health crop rotation

E328F

Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter

E328N

Intercropping to improve soil health

E328O

Perennial grain crop conservation rotation

329

Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (acres)

E329A

No till to reduce soil erosion

E329B

No till to reduce tillage induced particulate matter

E329C

No till to increase plant-available moisture

E329D

No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E329E

No till to reduce energy

332

Contour Buffer Strips (acres)

None Available

336

Soil Carbon Amendment (acres)*

None Available

340

Cover Crop (acres)

E340A

Cover crop to reduce soil erosion

E340B

Intensive cover cropping to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E340C

Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter

E340D

Intensive orchard/vineyard floor cover cropping to increase soil health

E340F

Cover crop to minimize soil compaction

E340G

Cover crop to reduce water quality degradation by utilizing excess soil nutrients

E340H

Cover crop to suppress excessive weed pressures and break pest cycles

E340I

Using cover crops for biological strip till

E340J

Cover crop to improve moisture use efficiency and reduce salts

345

Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (acres)

E345A

Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion

E345B

Reduced tillage to reduce tillage induced particulate matter

E345C

Reduced tillage to increase plant-available moisture

E345D

Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E345E

Reduced tillage to reduce energy use




Highlighted activities have been added to the list in FY2024.

*Noted activities are added to the list as “provisional.”[1]


Mitigation Categories [5]


Code

Conservation Practice  Standard Name[2] [3] (practice unit)


Code

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Enhancement Activities

Soil Health

386

Field Border (acres)

E386A

Enhanced field borders to reduce soil erosion along the edge(s) of a field

E386B

Enhanced field borders to increase carbon storage along the edge(s) of the field

E386C

Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field

E386D

Enhanced field borders to increase food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field

E386E

Enhanced field borders to increase wildlife food and habitat along the edge(s) of a field

393

Filter Strips (acres)

E393A

Extend existing filter strip to reduce water quality impacts

412

Grassed Waterways (acres)

E412A

Enhance a grassed waterway

484

Mulching (acres)

E484A

Mulching to improve soil health

E484B

Reduce particulate matter emissions by using orchard or vineyard generated woody materials as mulch

E484C

Mulching with natural materials in specialty crops for weed control

E484D

Lowbush Blueberry Mulching for Moisture Management

585

Stripcropping (acres)

None Available

601

Vegetative Barriers (feet)

None Available

603

Herbaceous Wind Barriers (feet)

None Available

Nitrogen Management

590

Nutrient Management (acres)

E590A

Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses

E590B

Reduce risks of nutrient loss to surface water by utilizing precision agriculture technologies

E590C

Improving nutrient uptake efficiency and reducing risk of nutrient losses on pasture

E590D

Reduce risks of nutrient losses to surface and groundwater by increasing setback awareness via precision technology

Livestock Partnership

317

Composting Facility (number)*

None Available

313

Waste Storage Facility (number)*

  • Used to implement


compost bedded-pack[4]


None Available

366

Anaerobic Digester (number)

None Available

367

Roofs and Covers (number)*


  • Used to cover a waste management facility to capture biogas[4]


None Available

592

Feed Management (animal unit)*

  • Used to reduce enteric


methane emissions [4]


None Available

632

Waste Separation Facility (number)*

None Available





Highlighted activities have been added to the list in FY2024.


*Noted activities are added to the list as “provisional.”[1]


Grazing and Pasture

314

Brush Management (acres)*


  • Used to remove woody invasive vegetation and the removed material will be left onsite. [4]

E314A

Brush management to improve wildlife habitat*

315

Herbaceous Weed Treatment (acres)*

  • Used to release desired deep rooted perennial


species. [4]

E315A

Herbaceous weed treatment to create desired plant communities consistent with the ecological site*

338

Prescribed Burning (acres)*

E338A

Strategically planned, patch burning for grazing distribution and wildlife habitat*

512

Pasture and Hay Planting (acres)

E512A

Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture to reduce soil erosion

E512B

Forage and biomass planting to reduce soil erosion or increase organic matter to build soil health

E512C

Cropland conversion to grass for soil organic matter improvement

E512D

Forage plantings that help increase organic matter in depleted soils

E512I

Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect and/or monarch habitat

E512J

Establish wildlife corridors to provide habitat continuity or access to water

E512L

Diversifying forage base with interseeding forbs and legumes to increase pasture quality

E512M

Forage plantings that improve wildlife habitat cover and shelter or structure and composition

528

Prescribed Grazing (acres)

E528A

Maintaining quantity and quality of forage for animal health and productivity

E528F

Stockpiling cool season forage to improve structure and composition or plant productivity and health

E528G

Improved grazing management on pasture for plant productivity and health with monitoring activities

E528H

Prescribed grazing to improve/maintain riparian and watershed function- elevated water temperature

E528I

Grazing management that protects sensitive areas -surface or ground water from nutrients

E528J

Prescribed grazing on pastureland that improves riparian and watershed function

E528L

Prescribed grazing that improves or maintains riparian and watershed function-erosion

E528M

Grazing management that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion

E528N

Improved grazing management through monitoring activities

E528O

Clipping mature forages to set back vegetative growth for improved forage quality





Highlighted activities have been added to the list in FY2024.

*Noted activities are added to the list as “provisional.”[1]


Mitigation Categories [5]


Code

Conservation Practice  Standard Name[2] [3] (practice unit)


Code

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Enhancement Activities

Grazing and Pasture

528

Prescribed Grazing (acres)

E528P

Implementing Bale or Swath Grazing to increase organic matter and reduce nutrients in surface water

E528R

Management intensive rotational grazing

E528S

Soil Health Improvements on Pasture

E528T

Grazing to Reduce Wildfire Risks on Forests

E528U

Contingency Planning for Resiliency

550

Range Planting (acres)

E550A

Range planting for increasing/maintaining organic matter

E550B

Range planting for improving forage, browse, or cover for wildlife

Agroforestry, Forestry and Wildlife Habitat

311

Alley Cropping (acres)

None Available

342

Critical Area Planting (acres)

None Available

379

Forest Farming (acres)

None Available

380

Windbreaks/Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation (feet)


None Available

381

Silvopasture (acres)

E381A

Silvopasture to improve wildlife habitat

383

Fuel Break (acres)*

E383A

Grazing-maintained fuel break to reduce the risk of fire*

384

Woody Residue Treatment (acres)*

E384A

Biochar production from woody residue*

390

Riparian Herbaceous Cover (acres)

E390A

Increase riparian herbaceous cover width for sediment and nutrient reduction

E390B

Increase riparian herbaceous cover width to enhance wildlife habitat

391

Riparian Forest Buffer (acres)

E391A

Increase riparian forest buffer width for sediment and nutrient reduction

E391B

Increase stream shading for stream temperature reduction

E391C

Increase riparian forest buffer width to enhance wildlife habitat

420

Wildlife Habitat Planting (acres)*

E420A

Establish pollinator habitat*

E420B

Establish monarch butterfly habitat*

422

Hedgerow Planting (feet)

None Available

612

Tree-Shrub Establishment (acres)

E612B

Planting for high carbon sequestration rate

E612C

Establishing tree/shrub species to restore native plant communities

E612G

Tree/shrub planting for wildlife food

643

Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (ac)*

  • Used to restore


floodplain hydrology [4]

E643D

Low-tech process-based restoration to enhance floodplain connectivity*


666

Forest Stand Improvement (acres)*

E666A

Maintaining and improving forest soil quality*

E666D

Forest management to enhance understory vegetation*

E666E

Reduce height of the forest understory to limit wildfire risk*

E666F

Reduce forest stand density to create open stand structure*





Highlighted activities have been added to the list in FY2024.

*Noted activities are added to the list as “provisional.”[1]


Mitigation Categories [5]


Code

Conservation Practice  Standard Name[2] [3] (practice unit)


Code

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Enhancement Activities

Agroforestry, Forestry and Wildlife Habitat

666

Forest Stand Improvement (acres)*

E666H

Increase on-site carbon storage*

E666I

Crop tree management for mast production*

E666J

Facilitating oak forest regeneration*

E666K

Creating structural diversity with patch openings*

E666L

Forest Stand Improvement to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands*

E666P

Summer roosting habitat for native forest-dwelling bat species*

E666R

Forest songbird habitat maintenance*

E666S

Facilitating longleaf pine regeneration and establishment*

Restoration of Disturbed Lands

453

Land Reclamation, Landslide Treatment (acres)

None Available

543

Land Reclamation, Abandoned Mined Land (acres)


None Available

Energy, Combustion, & Electricity Efficiency

372

Combustion System Improvement (number)

  • Used for stationary or mobile engine

replacement or repower

to electric motor

E372A

Switch to Renewable Power Source

E372B

Renewable Energy Source for Large Internal Combustion Engines

374

Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation (number)*

None Available

430

Irrigation Pipeline (feet)*


  • Used to reduce energy use [4]

None Available

441

Irrigation System, Microirrigation (acres)*


  • Used to reduce energy use [4]

None Available

442

Sprinkler System (acres)*


  • Used to reduce energy use [4]

None Available

533

Pumping Plant (number)*


  • Used to reduce energy use [4]

E533C

Install VFDs on pumps*

E533D

Switch fuel source for pumps*

672

Energy Efficient Building Envelope (number)*

None Available

670

Energy Efficient Lighting System (number)*

None Available

Wetlands

657

Wetland Restoration (acres)*

None Available

Rice

449

Irrigation Water Management (acres)*

  • Used as part of an alternated wetting and drying (AWD) system in

rice fields

E449B

Alternated Wetting and Drying (AWD) of rice fields*


NRCS Practice Guidelines for Cover Crops

See guidelines for NRCS practices here.

Are Cover Crops Worth the Cost?

When Brad Zimmerman decided to try growing cover crops 10 years ago, the Groveland, Illinois, corn and soybean farmer had a list of worries: “I was concerned about the cost, the time it would require, the possibility that the cover crop wasn’t going to grow, and the possible yield drag on my cash crops,” he says. But Zimmerman reasoned that cover crops could improve the soil biology. This could improve his cropping system’s efficiency, thus reducing synthetic fertilizer inputs over the long term. He took the plunge and hasn’t looked back. He added cover crops on a small scale, learned from his mistakes, and took advantage of cost sharing through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The long-term benefits to his cropping system have been well worth the effort. Soil organic matter has improved along with other soil health improvements, resulting in cost savings due to reduced applications of synthetic fertilizers.

Concerns about cost are among farmers’ top four reasons for not growing cover crops. In a recent book “Cover Crops: Improving Life on the Land,” author Myers, relates surveys and data supporting the process and defining the economics. “In the first one or two years, you may see a reduction in net profit,” Myers says. “But on the third year, you may start to break even as a result of better soil health, leading to higher cash crop yields. By the fifth year, you may start to see a positive net profit because of gradually increasing yield benefits generated by cover crops combined with reduced applications of fertilizer or herbicide, or reduced need for tillage.” “In a six-year period between soil tests, we’ve increased soil organic matter from 2.7% to 3.3%,” he says. “A higher level of organic matter is the reason our soil is more productive. The soil is able to release more nutrients and retains water better, so that the plants are better able to withstand dry periods. We can raise crops with reduced inputs.”

See also: NACD article about the book and farmer results

You Tube presentation by Dr. Myers

NRCS CLIMATE SMART PRACTICES:

See the full chart HERE  of available programs and additional practices on nutrient management, grazing and pastureland. Practices vary based on the land sector (agriculture, forestry, wetlands etc.). Soil health practices are listed below.

Code

Conservation Practice Standard Name[2] (units)

CSP
Enhancement Code

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Bundle and Enhancement Activity

 

 

B000BFF1

Buffer Bundle#1*

B000CPL24

Cropland soil health management system*

B000CPL25

Climate smart advanced soil health*

327

Conservation Cover (acres)

E327A

Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects

E327B

Establish Monarch butterfly habitat

328

Conservation Crop Rotation (acres)

E328A

Resource conserving crop rotation

E328B

Improved resource conserving crop rotation

E328E

Soil health crop rotation

E328F

Modifications to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter

E328G

Crop rotation on recently converted CRP grass/legume cover for soil organic matter improvement

E328N

Intercropping to improve soil health

E328O

Perennial grain crop conservation rotation

329

Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (acres)

E329A

No till to reduce soil erosion

E329B

No till to reduce tillage induced particulate matter

E329C

No till to increase plant-available moisture

E329D

No till system to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E329E

No till to reduce energy

332

Contour Buffer Strips (acres)

None Available

40

Cover Crop (acres)

E340A

Cover crop to reduce soil erosion

E340B

Intensive cover cropping to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E340C

Use of multi-species cover crops to improve soil health and increase soil organic matter

E340D

Intensive orchard/vineyard floor cover cropping to increase soil health

E340F

Cover crop to minimize soil compaction

E340G

Cover crop to reduce water quality degradation by utilizing excess soil nutrients

E340H

Cover crop to suppress excessive weed pressures and break pest cycles

E340I

Using cover crops for biological strip till

345

 

Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (acres)

E345A

Reduced tillage to reduce soil erosion

E345B

Reduced tillage to reduce tillage induced particulate matter

E345C

Reduced tillage to increase plant-available moisture

E345D

Reduced tillage to increase soil health and soil organic matter content

E345E

Reduced tillage to reduce energy use

386

Field Border (acres)

E386A

Enhanced field borders to reduce soil erosion along the edge(s) of a field

E386B

Enhanced field borders to increase carbon storage along the edge(s) of the field

E386C

Enhanced field borders to decrease particulate emissions along the edge(s) of the field

E386D

Enhanced field borders to increase food for pollinators along the edge(s) of a field

393

Filter Strips (acres)

E393A

Extend existing filter strip to reduce water quality impacts

412

Grassed Waterways (acres)

E412A

Enhance a grassed waterway

484

Mulching (acres)

E484A

Mulching to improve soil health

E484B

Reduce particulate matter emissions by using orchard or vineyard generated woody materials as mulch

E484C

Reduce particulate matter emissions by using orchard or vineyard generated woody materials as mulch

585

Stripcropping (acres)

None Available

601

Vegetative Barriers (feet)

603

Herbaceous Wind Barriers (feet)

The Economics of No-Till Farming

The potential benefits of no-till practices are well-documented, from improving soil health to reducing annual fuel and labor investments. For example, no-till processes can save 4 gallons per acre over tilled farm methods.

NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project CEAP) details practices and benefits.

New Cover Crop Survey Challenges Assumptions

The new national survey report finds the vast majority of farmers using cover crops don’t need incentive payments to continue those practices.

According to the National Cover Crop Survey  90.3% of famers receiving cover crop incentives reported that they would definitely or probably continue planting cover crops after payments ended. These findings were among many conclusions drawn in a report, issued jointly by SARE, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), based on insights from nearly 800 farmers in 49 states.

Valuing Environmental Benefits of Conservation Management Actions

The economic and social value to the public of enhanced environmental benefits resulting from conservation practices are in addition to how conservation practices enhance agricultural productivity and increase private economic value to the farmer/rancher. This analysis focuses exclusively on the value to the public of environmental benefits.

Comprehensive Guidebook for Building Soils (SARE)

This is a very comprehensive guidebook for on-farm use to build healthy soils.

Climate Smart Mitigation Activities

Nature Based Solutions

PowerPoint discussing nature based solutions, co-benefits and ecosystem management. View HERE.

Managing Cover Crops Profitability

Western Cover Crops Council

The Council makes available a range of articles on cover crops, no-till and other agricultural practices.

National Wildlife Federation Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices

Fully implementing CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES could remove as much as 100-200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2050.

Improved Grazing Management on a 500 acre ranch can sequestser 208 metric tons of CO2 equivalent each year.

Rotational Grazing can increase pasture profitability,water storage, and wildlife habitat.

Cover Crops help reduce soil erosion and can increase crop yields.

Soil Management Practices could remove over 2 gigatons of CO2 from our atmosphere by 2050 (equal to emissions from burning 225 billion gallons of gasoline).

Buffer Strips help improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.

Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network

Lay of the Land and Levers for Change: Farming for Climate Resilience. 

What does an agricultural economy resilient to a changing climate in Oregon look like?

What is already happening in Oregon to make this vision a reality?

How do farmers and ranchers need and want to improve their operations?

Where are the gaps in research and Technical support for farmers? This report shares what has been heard.

Grasslands Management

 

One-third of the world’s carbon is tamed by grass.  Landowners will eventually be paid for carbon storage and other environmental benefits that grasslands and pastures provide.  Third parties reap the economic benefits grasslands provide, including watershed management, wildlife habitat and pollinators for grain production.

  Grasslands called key to carbon future | The Western Producer

Climate Corps Launched

As part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps, USDA launches the Working Lands Climate Corps to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders on Climate-Smart Agriculture. The Working Lands Climate Corps will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the country, now and in the future. The Working Lands Climate Corps, in its first cohort, will aim to create service opportunities for more than 100 young people. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working in partnership with AmeriCorps, The Corps Network and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) in this effort. To date, more than 50,000 people have expressed interest in joining the American Climate Corps. To learn more, visit the Corps Network site

Other Practices:

When manure is handled as a solid or deposited on pastures, nitrous oxide production increases while little or no methane is emitted. Management of timing, rate, and amount of nutrients and amendments to soil can reduce climate impacts, promoting soil health.

Anaerobic digestion is another relevant tool.

Proper composting of waste can reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers, help recover soil fertility and improve water retention and the delivery of nutrients to plants.

Using alternative application methods to reduce the amount of irrigation water is also beneficial to soil health.

Biosolids produced at wastewater treatment facilities are extensively used on agricultural
land to improve soil health and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks.

Developing or extending riparian areas along streams can add to soil health and sequestration opportunities, including increasing woody plant coverage.

bio char

Climate change mitigation not only requires reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also the withdrawal of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the
atmosphere. Biochar, carbon rich charcoal-like remnants of super-heated organic matter (pyrolyzed biomass) is a hard material added to soil to provide a resilient air trap that helps in the spread of oxygen and nutrients to plant roots.

US Biochar Initiative

What are the benefits of pasture management?   One study found that farms participating in sustainable agriculture practices like rotational grazing produced 19% fewer emissions than non-participating farms in the first two years, dropping to 35% fewer emissions after participating for longer than two years.  W.K. Kellog Farm’s Pasture Dairy Center uses a rotational grazing strategy to mitigate emissions.

EQUIPMENT

  • No till-drill in various sizes, crop and/or pastureland
  • Tractor with horsepower required for drill towing
  •  Roller crimper, flail, or sickle bar for terminating cover crop growth without using pesticides
  •  Soil coring devices for determining soil quality
  • Aerators

Other equipment that would enhance carbon sequestration programs

  • Pickup or other truck to house and take hydraulic core samples down to 100 centimeters
  • Comet computer software to measure potential carbon
  • Electric farm vehicles
 
blue tractor

Electric Tractor from Solectrac Partners Forth, Wy’East RC&D, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Sustainable Northwest and Rusted Gate Farm are taking part in a demo of electrifying equipment for fuel and maintenance savings and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The vehicles will be rotated to different geographic areas within the state.

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FROM SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

A number of SWCDS own equipment that can enhance soil and water conservation practices. Below is an example of one district’s equipment and rental pricing.

Clackamas SWCD Equipment Rental Program

Equipment

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers an Equipment Rental Program which makes a variety of agricultural equipment available at reasonable prices to Clackamas. Equipment is also available at Yamhill, Jackson, Grant, Tualatin, and Malheur SWCDs, among others. The ODA SWCD Directory provides contact information for a Conservation Districts in each county.

Computer Based Equipment that Can Identify Carbon Potential

Comet Farm

Comet Farm Video, USDA’s online carbon-capture calculator is a computer tool with which producers enter information about their land and management, including location, soil characteristics, land uses, tillage practices and nutrientuse. The tool then estimates how much carbon soil could capture on cropland, pasture and rangeland, and livestock operations. It also has an agro-forestry component.

Calculate Your Carbon Potential

Type in your location and select values from the list, input acreage and selected practices to receive an instant carbon potential estimate at AGORO.

FAST-GHG Soil Tool

This is a fertilizer and soil tool designed to help quantify greenhouse gas emissions in crop production developed by Cornell faculty in partnership with researchers at Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy, FAST-GHG quantifies how soil management practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions using the online calculator.

Soils Revealed

Soils Revealed is a platform for visualizing how past and future management changes soil organic carbon stocks based on available soil data, information about the environment and computer simulations over time. The project involves collaboration with a number of partners.

OTHER ARTICLES

Cornell University Working Lands Resources
Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ website dedicated to helping  farmers, forest owners and policymakers find meaningful ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) from the land—includes a variety of resources and tools. While some of the resources are relative
to NY, a number of resources can be applied more broadly.

Farming with Soil Life
Adaptation resources for agriculture response to climate variability and change: USDA, Xerces Society and SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and  Education)

Empowering Farmers with Regional Farm Equipment
AB 552
promotes a program that would be housed at the CA Department of Food and Agriculture in coordination with the Department of Conservation and would include a small farms advisory committee. 

The Case for Carbon Farming in California – High Country News

Can Dirt Save the Earth? – NY Times

What Regenerative Agriculture Can Do for the Climate – “Yes” magazine