Many Eastern Colorado Farmers have valuable revenue simply sitting on their farm, yet no one seems to notice.
Carbon credits, a valuable component for emission schemes that lowers greenhouse gases, can be captured in topsoil. Once captured it can be sold in the pilot greenhouse gas trading market, the Chicago Climate Exchange.
The idea was suggested by Lowell Messman, a specialist with AgraGate Climate Credits Corp of West Des Moines, Iowa, at the 2009 Colorado Farm Show. AgraGate is one of the three companies that are working to have contracts for carbon credits with the Chicago Climate Exchange.
Carbon Credits are not solely for farms, they can be found on ranches, too. Warren Hammerbeck owns a ranch he grew up on in South Dakota, he is also working to have a contract with the Chicago Climate Exchange.
“It’s a source of additional revenue everybody who farms or ranches needs to explore,†Hammerbeck told The Tribune.
“The market has gone from about $1 per ton per year this past year up to $7 per ton. But I think it could go a lot higher than that, unless the government gets involved and puts a cap on how much credits can be sold for,†Hammerbeck said.
For those interested in profiting off carbon credits or starting a farm or ranch of their own, farm loans and ranch loans are available. Contact a representative at Farm Plus for more information on available farm credit. Visit online or call 866-929-5585.
Tags: agraGate, carbon credits