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WL Feature
A
5% reduction in N…?
Nutrien actually promoted a reduction in N.
As the applicator varies about 25% CV in hillside farming to 50%CV pivot
applied in the PNW.
May 03, 2023
By Trista Crossley
Carbon market options
NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS, NORI PROGRAMS OPEN TO
WASHINGTON WHEAT GROWERS
To date, most carbon market programs are based on Midwest data and
target Midwest growers and growing conditions, but there are a couple
open to Pacific Northwest growers.
(Please note, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (and
Wheat Life) does not promote or recommend any program over another and
presents this information to help keep our growers informed. Growers
are urged to do their own investigation to see if any of these
programs are right for them).
NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS
One of the companies offering Pacific Northwest wheat growers
an entry into carbon markets is Nutrien Ag Solutions through their
Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes program, which incentivizes growers to
reduce their nitrogen application rate.
Dr. Sally Flis, director, Sustainability Program Design and Outcome
Management
for Nutrien Ag Solution's
North American Sustainable Agriculture programs, said because
of the way the carbon reporting works for retailers, including
fertilizer manufacturers, they have to take into account nitrous
oxide emissions from nitrogen fertilizers used as part of the growing
process.
"Nitrous oxide emissions from
fertilizer use in the field are one of the biggest portions of all
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of food," she
explained. "What this protocol does, is it looks at combining
improved nitrogen application, asking growers to reduce nitrogen rate
and using a nitrification inhibitor product or a slow control release
fertilizer. The minimum rate we are asking growers to reduce _by, in
order to meet the protocol requirements, is 5%.
("
Application "LV" is 25%" GJS)
Growers will be able to pick a combination of
practices that work for them; the more practices they choose, the
bigger the payment they could qualify for.
"So, if they just want to make a bigger rate reduction and not use one
of those products, they can do that, or if they want to make a bigger
rate reduction and use one Growers will be able to pick a
combi_:nation of practices that work for them; the more practices they
choose, the bigger the payment they could qualify for.
"So, if they just want to make a bigger rate reduction and not use one
of those products, they can do that, or if they want to make a bigger
rate reduction and use one of those products, they can do that. It
gives the grower a little more freedom in working with their crop
consultant to decide what the best approach is for them to get to that
emission reduction," Flis said.
Nutrien will work to get the carbon credits verified by a third party
and then potentially sell them downstream or to other partners.
Currently, growers are paid $25 per ton of carbon equivalent that is
calculated based on the nitrogen management practices implemented in
the field. If the company is able to sell the carbon credit for more,
the grower will get the additional credit. Growers don't have to be a
Nutrien customer to take part in the program, but they do have to have
an account with a branch location, because growers will be paid as a
credit to an account.
The Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes program is in its second year. The
company started with a pilot program where it looked at different
carbon practices, including nitrogen management, cover crops and
no-till, to start learning about the process. One of the things they
learned was that both the company and growers weren't comfortable with
contracts that span multiple years, or even decades - Nutrien's
contracts are only a year long.
Growers interested in participating in the Sustainable Nitrogen
Outcomes program need to be aware of the reporting requirements -
growers will need to report on everything that happens on enrolled
fields all year long. As Flis said, the data lift is one of the
biggest challenges, and without the data, growers don't get paid. For
Nutrien, which is funding the program themselves, the value of the
program is in their environmental, social and gover- nance reporting
and investor relations, which is heavy on sustainability.
"There's such a nice, whole, end-to-end story for
wheat production to tell as we get some of our lower emission nitrogen
fertilizer products into the field. From the manufacturing side, they
have a lower emission, and then we tie that to better nitrogen
management by the growers we are working with. It's a win-win for both
our customers and our company," Flis explained.
For more information, growers can visit Nutrien's
website at
info.nutrienagsolutions.com/sno, or call West Region Senior
Manager Carson Britz at (805) 888-1383.
NORI
Nori is a Seattle-based startup that was founded in 2017, with
its first batch of carbon credits, called Nori Removal Tonnes or NRTs,
sold in 2019. According to their website.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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