The Old and New of Carbon Contracts: Janzen at Indiana Farm Equipment and Technology Expo

Everyone likely has that “box” - the box of high school items stored at your parent’s home that eventually finds its way into your truck to take home and sort. Todd Janzen brought home a box like this from the family farm in Kansas, and it included speeches he gave in his youth about global warming and carbon. “This topic has been around a LONG Time,” he observed as part of his presentation on Carbon Credit contracts at the recent Indiana Farm Equipment and Technology Show.

While the topic may be familiar, the soil carbon contract arena is new and evolving. As an expert working with this unique type of contract daily, Todd shared the basics of the carbon credit market as well as what farmers should be looking into before signing on the bottom line. He pointed out that this type of contract is not “your typical farm contract” and farmers should be sure they understand it all. “Additionality,” anyone?

The audience had numerous questions for Todd, from how many acres it takes to generate a metric ton of sequestered carbon to who gets the money from the arrangement, the owner of land or cash renter? As with all complicated contracts, be sure you get legal advice to protect your farm’s future.