OVERVIEW ELIGIBILITY FORMS TRADING INCOME FAQs CONTACTS


Welcome

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association and Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association have partnered with the Chicago Climate Exchange to offer new revenue opportunities for farmland. The KyCGA/KySGGA Carbon Trading Program seeks to simplify the process of earning and selling carbon credits for farming operations.

Many farmers in Kentucky are already doing everything that is necessary to qualify for this program – those practices just need to be documented and enrolled as a project. KyCGA/KySGGA staff will easily handle most of that enrollment process so that farmers can begin to receive payments. Projects comprising millions of acres have already proved to add profit to farms throughout the country. Since 2006, over 100 farms in Kentucky have been enrolled through KyCGA/KySGGA.

Please browse this web site to familiarize yourself with eligibility requirements, income potential, and frequently asked questions. The enrollment forms contain all of the paperwork that is to be required of farmers. If you have a concern that is not answered by this website, do not hesitate to contact us to get answers to whatever questions you might want to discuss.

This program has been established entirely as a member-service of KyCGA/KySGGA. No service fee will be charged by KyCGA or KySGGA to Kentucky members who participate in soil programs. A five percent fee will be charged to participants in other states.

News:

May 2009 - Climate Change conversations are occurring everywhere.  So far the discussions haven’t really seemed to affect Carbon Credit prices.  In April, price stayed below the $2.00 mark.  KyCGA/KySGGA staff has submitted a request for credits to be issued for Pools 1 and 2.  Participants should get a letter within the next couple of weeks.  The letter will ask participants to verify that they have maintained compliance on all of their contracted acreage.  The letter will also explain the marketing strategy and provide a chance for participants to bank their credits.  It is important for all participants to answer all questions and return the letter to our office as soon as possible.  We will not be issued the credits from CCX until we have all letters returned.  Call Adam at 502-742-2036 if you have any questions.

May 23, 2008: Participants in the Carbon Trading Program should expect to receive a check by the end of May. Carbon Credit prices rose steeply this Spring. In February, they were below $2.00 per metric ton – by May, they had reached $7.00. KyCGA staff traded the last of the credits that will be available in 2008 for $7.05 (net) on May 20, 2008. In total, $250,000 will be mailed to almost 100 Carbon Trading Program participants.

February 2008, Pool 1:  Credits for Pool 1, Vintage 2006 were sold in early February.  The verification process for Vintage 2007 credits are in the final stages.  All of the Pool 1 Vintage 2007 credits are expected to be issued by the end of February.  Those credits will be sold and the proceeds from all sales will be distributed in early March.

February 2008, Pool 2:  Credits for Vintage 2006 and Vintage 2007 were sold in early February at various trading price between $3.70 and $4.50 per Metric Ton.  The proceeds from that sale is expected by the end of February and checks should be sent out in early March.

August 2007, Pool 1:  - 2005 credits have been sold. 2006 credits will be sold when the price per metric ton becomes more profitable. Pool 1 participants can expect a check from the sale of 2005 credits.

March 20, 2007 - Chicago Climate Exchange Approves Expanded Area Eligibility for Soil Offset Projects: All Kentucky Counties are Included in the Program

March 20, 2007 - Chicago Climate Exchange Increases the Conservation-Tillage Soil Offset Rate to 0.6 Metric Tons per Acre from 0.5 Metric Tons per Acre thus Raising Potential Income for Farmers. The Pasture Soil Offset rate was raised form 0.75 to 1.0 metric tons per Acre.

Read the March 20, 2007 Press Release
 

Resources:

 

Summary of Available Programs

Soil - Conservation Tillage Section:
  • Minimum of a five-year contractual commitment to continuous no-till or strip-till on enrolled acres.
  • Tillage Practice must leave at least two-thirds of the soil surface undisturbed and a least two-thirds of the residue remaining on the field surface.
  • Contracts are typically dated retroactive to the previous crop year.
  • 0.6 Metric Tons of Carbon Credit per acre, per year issued in Kentucky.
Soil - New Grass Plantings Section:
  • Eligible acres must have been converted to grass/pasture since January 1, 1999.
  • Project owners must contractually commit to leave the land in pasture for a minimum of five years.
  • Grazing and Hay Cutting is allowed.
  • CRP, CREP and other USDA programs are eligible.
  • Metric Tons of Carbon Credit per acre, per year issued in Kentucky.

© Kentucky Corn Growers Association and Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association - PO Box 90 - Eastwood, KY 40018