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Modern Ag: Restoring Our Climate, Restoring Carbon’s Image
Is Carbon a Hero or Villain?
Carbon is blamed for a lot. Rising sea levels, melting Arctic ice caps, extreme weather events, loss of polar bear habitat—you name it. Does that make carbon a villain?
Before we can answer, we need to know more about carbon’s story—what it does and what it makes possible. The best place to start is the carbon cycle—its journey through air, water, and soil.
A Necessary and Vital Element
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe, forged in dying stars when three helium atoms fuse. Its unique structure makes life possible; that’s why we are called carbon-based lifeforms.
Carbon also drives photosynthesis, forms the backbone of major nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), and provides the source of energy that drove the industrial revolution: hydrocarbons, better known as fossil fuels. Hydrocarbons continue to power much of our world today.
The Consequences of Imbalance
Currently, less than one percent (0.04%) of air is carbon dioxide. Normal levels are the result of respiration from humans, animals, plants, and soils, with volcanoes, geysers, and oceans contributing as well.
However, burning fossil fuel adds extra carbon, which contributes to the greenhouse effect by trapping heat inside our atmosphere. This warms our oceans, increasing the rate at which they release dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Over the past 150 years, we have doubled the amount of carbon in the atmosphere from 200 parts per million (PPM) to over 400.
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Over the past 150 years, we have doubled the amount of carbon in the atmosphere from 200 parts per million (PPM) to over 400.
Three Ways Modern Agriculture Can Help Tell a Better Carbon Story
It turns out plants and farming practices can help. Because soil has the ability to sequester, or store, significant amounts of carbon, modern agriculture plays a key part in reducing carbon emissions and keeping carbon in the ground.
Chapter One
Crop
Productivity
Plants bred for productivity can help, because they increase the amount of carbon pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. These plants generate more food, which is great for farmers and consumers.
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Crop
Chapter One
Crop
Productivity
Plants bred for productivity can help, because they increase the amount of carbon pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. These plants generate more food, which is great for farmers and consumers.
Chapter Two
Soil
Sequestration
Farmers can use soil-specific techniques like conservation tillage and planting cover crops. Conservation tillage prevents carbon from being released into the air, while also reducing tractor emissions. Cover crops also provide carbon reduction benefits, collecting and delivering it to the soil for future use.
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Soil
Chapter Two
Soil
Sequestration
Farmers can use soil-specific techniques like conservation tillage and planting cover crops. Conservation tillage prevents carbon from being released into the air, while also reducing tractor emissions. Cover crops also provide carbon reduction benefits, collecting and delivering it to the soil for future use.
Chapter Three
Efficient
Precision Technology
Recent major advances in machine and fuel efficiency help minimize carbon emissions from normal farming activities. GPS guidance on tractors, precision applicators and planters, and variable rate technologies all reduce the amount of energy required to run a farm.
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Efficient
Chapter Three
Efficient
Precision Technology
Recent major advances in machine and fuel efficiency help minimize carbon emissions from normal farming activities. GPS guidance on tractors, precision applicators and planters, and variable rate technologies all reduce the amount of energy required to run a farm.
So, is carbon good or bad?
Yes. Yes, it is.
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So, is carbon good or bad?
So, is carbon good or bad?
Yes. Yes, it is.
A Modern Understanding of Carbon
Like most things in life and agriculture, balance is key. Carbon is clearly crucial to our existence. Just as clear, however, is the need to carefully manage it. Farmers have known this for some time, and they take their carbon sequestration efforts seriously.
Those who support farmers embrace their role too, continuing to introduce innovative solutions focused on soil health, plant productivity, and energy efficiency. Everyone works toward the same goal: producing food today in a way that ensures a better tomorrow.
Carbon’s story is amazing, and so is our own story of using it and managing it. By continuing to embrace modern agriculture, we can improve our own quality of life, and help restore carbon’s image as a hero.
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