Capitalizing on Carbon

Corn, soybean and wheat growers in Missouri and surrounding states have a new opportunity to capitalize on carbon markets through MFA Incorporated’s partnership with Truterra, the sustainability business operated by Land O’Lakes cooperative.

MFA customers can now enroll in Truterra’s 2025 Carbon Program, which rewards eligible producers for pursuing on-farm conservation and stewardship practices. After successful program completion, farmers are paid up to $30 per metric ton, depending on how much actual carbon they sequester.

While carbon markets have been rapidly evolving in recent years, with several programs coming in and out of the space, Truterra’s farmer-centric, retail-driven approach makes the program a solid choice for MFA and its members, said Landry Jones, MFA conservation grazing specialist.

“We’ve been continually evaluating different carbon and sustainability programs, looking for a partnership that makes the most sense,” Jones said. “Land O’Lakes, being one of the largest cooperatives in the nation, understands the cooperative model, and Truterra programs are designed around what’s best for the growers who participate.”

What’s more, Jones continued, Truterra has a multi-year track record of success in the carbon marketplace. The company has been around since 2018, so its network of end users is well established and positioned to capture new opportunities in both inset and offset carbon markets throughout the food and agriculture value chain.

In its first three years, Truterra provided $21 million in payments to participating farmers, who have sequestered more than 1.1 million metric tons of carbon. Along with these positive results, the Truterra carbon program has seen significant growth in total acres and farmers enrolled.

For the 2025 carbon program, growers with practice changes in 2023, 2024 and 2025 may be considered for enrollment. Eligible practices are no-till and/or cover crops.

“Beyond carbon sequestration, there are good agronomic reasons to adopt these practices,” Jones said. “Truterra’s program matches those agronomics with economics to help farmers make the transition to conservation agriculture, improving productivity, profitability and sustainability in the process.”

Another benefit to working with Truterra, Jones said, is that its contracts are short term and flexible. Growers sign a one-year agreement with five subsequent data-reporting years. 

Offering Truterra’s carbon program is a natural extension of MFA’s current precision services, Jones said. That’s why MFA has designated precision agronomy specialists as “Truterra Champions,” one in each of the cooperative’s 10 districts. The list of these specialists and their contact information can be found online at mfa-inc.com/carbon. MFA personnel will facilitate enrollment, provide useful data generated through programs such as Nutri-Track and Crop-Trak and guide growers through the process. Truterra will handle soil sampling, verification and additional data collection along with helping participants navigate the complexities of carbon credit certification.

The partnership with Truterra is part of a strategic alliance announced in September by MFA Incorporated and Land O’Lakes to share expertise and resources in technology, data and innovative solutions. The two cooperatives have agreed to work together in various ways to better serve their respective members.

“Joining the Truterra network fulfills two of MFA’s core values: customer partnering and stewardship,” Jones said. “Through this collaboration, we’re providing the resources our farmers need to participate in carbon programs, generate additional income and reduce their environmental impact.”

For details on Truterra’s Carbon Program and how to enroll, visit mfa-inc.com/carbon or talk with your local MFA solutions provider.

***

CLICK TO READ more articles from this issue.

SUBSCRIBE to Today's Farmer Magazine today.