If you’re a farmer in Australia, chances are you’ve heard of soil carbon farming. But what is it? And more importantly, what are the benefits?
Soil carbon farming is a type of regenerative agriculture that focuses on restoring carbon to the soil. This is done through a variety of methods, including no-tillage farming, timed controlled grazing, cover crops, and crop rotation. Soil carbon farming has several benefits, both for the environment and for farmers.
Benefits for the Environment
Soil carbon farming helps sequester carbon in the ground, which has a number of environmental benefits. First and foremost, it helps reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. Additionally, it can help improve water quality and increase drought resilience.
Benefits for Farmers
Soil carbon farming also has several benefits for farmers. One of the most obvious benefits is that it can help increase yields. This is because healthy soils full of organic matter retain more water and nutrients, which leads to healthier plants. Soil carbon farming can also help reduce inputs costs, as farmers can use less water and fewer fertilizers and pesticides. Plus, healthy soils are more resistant to erosion, meaning farmers can actually save money on soil conservation efforts.
Farmers can also earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) that can be sold, adding diversity of income, and reducing business risk.
There’s no doubt about it—soil carbon farming is good for both the environment and for farmers. If you’re thinking about implementing regenerative agriculture practices on your farm, soil carbon farming is a great option to consider. Not only will it help reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, but it can also lead to higher crop yields, lower input costs and an additional income stream.