Locus AG pays farmers upfront for carbon credits
In order to get more U.S. farmers to participate in carbon programs, Locus Agricultural Solutions (Locus AG) adds new incentives to its CarbonNOW program.
Farmers get upfront, guarenteed cash payments twice a year, earning the landowner a minimum of $ 48/acre over the four-year commitment, plus extra performance bonuses.
Mistrust
According to Locus AG, farmers are hesitant to join carbon programs. Factors are carbon credit payments that typically don’t cover the costs of practice changes or program fees, burdensome data collection requirements and mistrust over promised payments that never materialise. Paying growers twice a year and providing the necessary verification work at no cost is to win farmers over.
On top of the two guaranteed minimum payments per year, row crop farmers can receive bonuses for additional carbon sequestered using the program’s soil probiotics.
Soil sampling and data collection
Locus AG aims to simplify the process by handling all soil sampling and data collection at no cost to the landowners. External, internationally recognized, third-party verification is used for program transparency.
Farmers already practicing regenerative agriculture practices for years, such as no- or low-till farming, are eligible for participation, says Locas AG.
