Practice change: Add a new crop to the rotation while not increasing the annual fallow period by greater than 30 days. See eligible crops.
Examples of qualifying scenarios:
- A grower who is growing continuous corn can become eligible by switching to a corn/soy rotation, even if their growing season for soybeans is 2 weeks shorter than for corn.
- A soybean-corn grower wants to add winter wheat into their rotation. In this example, the annual fallow period of a wheat crop (~August-October) is less than the annual fallow period of corn/soy (November-April). Therefore, the total annual fallow period does not increase by more than 30 days. Note: In this scenario, the fallow period following wheat is ideal for cover crops leading into the next spring crop (i.e., corn or soybeans).
Agronomic benefits: Increasing cash crop diversity breaks patterns of plant disease and pests while also providing nutrients for the next crop.
Recommendation: Adding a new cash crop to your rotation increases soil pore structure, which increases the soil’s carbon storage capacity and carbon sequestration. Although it’s a lower earning credit generation practice, it’s a great first step to participate in the program while helping to diversify farm income. Whether you’re new to carbon farming or deep into it and your other practice changes no longer qualify, this practice change could offer a good solution for you.