Participate in the Carbon Market
Monetizing Agronomic Practices
Sequestering carbon in the soil through agronomic practices such as cover crops, no-till farming or increased biodiversity can provide farmers with a whole new revenue stream.
If these agronomic practices fit into your goals, you can earn credit to sell to companies looking to balance out their emissions. Compeer is here to support your dreams as you explore the right options for your farm.
Explore Your Carbon Options
We partnered with two leading companies in the carbon market who offer trusted services for farmers who want to participate in the carbon market. Our team members are here for you to help you decide if your farm is a match for these carbon programs.
Agronomic practices vary for every operation, so to be eligible for the program you must change or add practices including, but not limited to, the following:
- Reducing tillage on farm or further reducing tillage from current practices
- Planting cover crops or adapting existing cover crop from cereal grains to annual plants
- Buying or renting new farms with conservation practices
Each of these scenarios increase the biodiversity of your farm by further improving the soil structure and soil organic levels, making them eligible for enrollment in these programs.
Carbon Insets with Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF)
Carbon insets are integrated within a company’s supply chain. For example, PepsiCo may want to source corn from a farm using no-till practices. While it is logistically challenging to source corn grown that way directly, it can be facilitated through inset programs.
A subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association, SWOF offers financial incentives and agronomic support. SWOF is the connection point between companies looking to make insets part of their business plan and farmers implementing these practices. Enrollment and certification are led by SWOF’s field team.
Carbon Offsets with Carbon by Indigo
Carbon offsets happen when companies directly invest in projects that reduce carbon emissions to compensate for its own – such as an airline like Delta. The voluntary investments are tracked and certified by third-party verifiers via the carbon registries.
Carbon by Indigo helps farmers monetize their agronomic practices that sequester carbon in the soil by tracking the ownership, issuance and transfer of the carbon credit between farmers and the market. This two-sided marketplace has seen drastic growth since 2015. Farmers lead the enrollment and data entry in this program.
Features & Values of Both Companies
- Credits agronomic practices such as no-till, reduced till, cover crops, single pass fertilizer, fuel reduction and additionality (emission reductions that wouldn’t have occurred without revenue from the sale of carbon credit)
- Only farmers who have not previously participated in a carbon program are eligible, however new acres put into practice do qualify
- 1-year, renewable contracts
Key Comparisons
- Indigo has a 150-acre minimum while SWOF has no minimum acreage requirement
- 2025 enrollment for Indigo is open until September 2, and SWOF’s enrollment runs through August 30
- Indigo has a 12-month lookback period, meaning fields that underwent a qualifying practice change in the past year can earn credits upon initial enrollment. Compeer is here to help you make informed decisions SWOF does not offer this option.
Compeer is here to help you make informed decisions and explore ways you can earn more per acre. Talk with your Compeer team member for more on these carbon opportunities.