Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

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• Project Summary
• Successes & Challenges
• Project Partners
• Outcomes
• Next Steps
• Press
• Quotes
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Bringing Greenhouse Gas Benefits to Market: Nutrient Management for Nitrous Oxide Reductions

Delta N2O Credits

Project Timeline: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014

Project Summary

This CIG seeks to scale implementation of nutrient management practices using N2O emission reduction credits, and evaluate different methods of quantification that support marketing of on-farm improvements.

Successes & Challenges

The Delta project team has achieved several successes through this CIG. Most notably we have:

• Created brief summaries evaluating N₂O  emission reduction methodologies for the three major U.S. registries:
  • American Carbon Registry's "Methodology for N₂O Emissions Reductions through Changes in Fertilizer Management" (based on DNDC) and the "Methodology for Quantifying Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reductions from Reduced Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Agricultural Crops" (based on MSU-EPRI)
  • Climate Action Reserve's "Nitrogen Management Project Protocol" (based on MSU-EPRI)
  • Verified Carbon Standard's proposed "Quantifying N₂O Emissions Reductions in US Agricultural Crops through N Fertilizer Rate Reduction" (based on MSU-EPRI)
• Entered into an Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement with The Climate Trust, securing an important opportunity to scale the program.
• Created Delta’s Nitrogen Credit Program (NCP) to provide farmers throughout the twelve-state North Central Region the opportunity to earn revenue from on-farm nutrient management.
• Verified and transacted the world’s first fertilizer N₂O emission reduction project through the American Carbon Registry, in partnership with a Michigan corn farmer and MSU researchers.

Outcomes

The outcome of the CIG is the establishment of Delta’s Nitrogen Credit Program, and ongoing initiative that enables farmers to generate credits and earn revenue for their on-farm nutrient management practices. 

For complete and up-to-date information about Delta’s Nitrogen Credit Program, please visit us at www.deltanitrogen.org.

Next Steps

Delta is actively working to engage Midwestern farmers in this initiative to create a robust competitive marketplace that supports environmental benefits to soil, air, and water.

Quotes

I wanted an accurate picture of what was happening on my farm, and now we’ve got good scientific data established. It’s been a good learning experience. I’ve committed one of my fields to this project, and I want to be part of the program for a while.
Myron Ortner, Michigan Farmer enrolled in NCP

The completion of this NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant demonstrates an opportunity to get more conservation on our nation's landscape. The environmental marketplace recognizes the value of ecosystem services provided by our nation's farms, ranches and forested lands. Partners like the Delta Institute and the Climate Trust work with USDA to help producers cope with climate change challenges and meet conservation goals by compensating those who are voluntarily reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
NRCS Chief Jason Weller

The agriculture sector is a major area of focus for The Climate Trust because of its potential to achieve large-scale greenhouse gas emission reductions. By working hand-in-hand with Delta Institute through their innovative Nitrogen Credit Program, we will be able to directly connect the agriculture industry with offset markets—providing a new source of income for farmers, and tapping into the huge potential of this sector.
Sean Penrith, Executive Director for The Climate Trust

Press

• West Michigan researchers cutting greenhouse gasses one farm at a time, 6/24/14 – MLive
• First Agricultural Fertilizer Offset Transaction Rewards Michigan Farmer and Reduces Emissions, 6/19/14 – Delta Institute
• Copious Fertilizer Down on the Farm Means More Global Warming Pollution up in the Sky, 6/11/14 – Scientific American
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offset Issued in First Agricultural Offsets Transaction, 6/9/14 – Electric Power Research Institute
• Two Dentons clients win awards for their carbon-reduction activities, 5/7/14 – The Lawyer article
• American Carbon Registry Presents Annual Awards for Outstanding Environmental Achievements, 3/27/14 – ACR’s 2014 Innovation Award
• Grant Helps Farmers Sustainability Goals, Embrace New Technology, 2/24/14 – USDA Blog Post by NRCS Chief Jason Weller
• New Nitrogen Reduction Trading Program, 2/21/14 – Corn and Soybean Digest article
• Innovative Conservation Partnership Launches the First Ever Credit Transaction to Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agriculture, 2/19/14 – PRESS RELEASE

Project Partners

• Jimmy Daukas & Ann Sorensen
  American Farmland Trust
• Eliav Bitan
  Independent consultant
• Karen Scanlon & Chad Watts
  Conservation Technology Information Center
• Bill Salas & Changsheng Li
  DNDC Applications, Research & Training
• Stacy Hansen
  Oklahoma Conservation Commission
• Jason Warren & Brian Arnall
• Ricardo Bayon
  EKO Asset Management Partners