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Carbon sequestration opportunities for cattle producers

While attention for carbon credits has been focused on row crops, one company says there are growing opportunities for cattle producers.

Mike Hoger, regional consultant with Agoro Carbon Alliance says there can be significant returns on investment and improvements to herd health. “We’re able to really create a better soil microbiome, a better overall opportunity to raise carbon within a ranching scenario, and most people wouldn’t believe that.”

He says their contracts offer options that don’t’ require changes in operational strategies or require upfront investments, but are focused on practice changes. “Changing tillage, that’s a strategy that takes a lot of money. Cover cropping can be expensive. We offer contracts to producers that allow them to rotationally graze, to change patterns, and how they handle their water and their mineral, and how they’re moving their cattle. There’s not a lot of investment.”

He tells Brownfield producers can receive credits for rotational grazing, fertilization and biodiversity. “How can we seed? How can we take a look at what species they can include in their pastures where it makes sense to seed?  That could bring in more forage quality and the ability then to create more soil carbon.”

And, Hoger says, the biggest risk is, “Their greatest risk is not doing the practices.  That’s it.”

He says they verify carbon credits with soil tests and producers are compensated based on the amount of carbon stored in the soil.

Mike Hoger: