22 RVC Insights Spring - Flipbook - Page 12
Be rewarded for stewardship
Truterra program offers a powerfull soil health planning suite of tools.
Matt VanSloten, Precision Ag Specialist
The countryside is abuzz with chatter
about carbon markets, carbon
capture, carbon sequestering, carbon
credits, and even a carbon pipeline.
But what does this all mean? The
intent behind the carbon boom is
to drive the initiative to begin the
process of limiting climate change
by capturing greenhouse gases
(GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2).
Although this can be a controversial
topic, we are not here to debate
or change your perception of this
concept.
We have experienced the rise of
global temperatures, heatwaves
occurring more often, heavier
precipitation, and more tropical
storm activity, all attributed to the
increase of GHG. These weather
changes directly impact agriculture.
Increasing CO2 can be a good thing
but in moderation. The addition of
CO2 stimulates photosynthesis, and
plant growth can directly correlate to
increased yield production. However,
CO2 also has the same impact
on weeds. Faster growing weeds
compete for water and nutrients
that are intended for crops. This
increases the risk of yield loss as it
fights for the same resources. Weeds
sometimes act as a host for insects
and pathogens that we do not want in
our crop system.
the past hundred years. The concern
is the rate of increase we have seen
over just the last 30 years. The EPA
has reported, “Eight of the last ten
warmest years have occurred since
1998” (Climate Change Indicators:
Weather and Climate| EPA.gov). While
this increase in temperatures is not
negatively impacting yields today, it will
continue to increase to the point that
it begins to cause detrimental effects
on plant growth and reproduction. This
is a concern that might not impact me
today, maybe not next year, but may
impact my future and the future of
those that come after me.
Let’s look at one of the effects
that has me concerned, global
temperatures increasing. The increase
in air temperatures is gradual when
we look at what has happened over
So, what does this have to do with
carbon and agriculture? The world
has started to look at how to curb CO2
emissions. The manufacturing industry
is looking at new ,technologies
SEQUESTRATION
1 2 / INSIG HTS