Release of Climate Smart Ag Guidance Could Boost Farm Income and Help Unlock New Markets for Biofuels Producers

Proposal Seeks Public Comment and Would Need to be Finalized by Trump Administration

Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IA - Today U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced an interim final rule regarding technical guidelines for calculating carbon reductions from climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices. If adopted, this would allow farmers to capture an economic reward for agronomic practices that improve environmental outcomes, while providing biofuels producers another option for meeting the growing international demand for low carbon fuels.

"The interim final rule released today by USDA could be a major step forward in unlocking the potential to reduce farm-level carbon and thereby reduce the carbon intensity for biofuels," said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. "There are several improvements from the previous CSA program, including more practices and flexibility. Just as importantly, a quick review of the new carbon calculator seems to show farmers would be given full credit for CSA practices instead of an artificially reduced number as in the previous iteration. Secretary Vilsack has once again pushed the envelope forward based on sound science and data. IRFA looks forward to digging into the proposal and providing feedback to help make it ever better."

Included in the released interim final rule is a wider range of qualifying practices and greater farm-level flexibility, along with additional fertilizer options. The carbon calculations are specific to individual counties to ensure the best accuracy. The rule outlines procedures for quantifying, verifying and reporting CSA impacts.

"It is important to note that, if finalized, this CSA program could be not only adopted into federal policies like the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, but also into state clean fuel policies and international carbon programs as well," added Shaw. "With the reliance on the best data and science and the imprint of the USDA, the onus going forward should not be on why a carbon program should adopt CSA, but rather on how they could possibly justify not recognizing CSA."

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org .

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