Farmer groups discussed the potential role in reducing carbon?emissions?Monday during a?roundtable?discussion with a South Dakota congressman in Valley City.??
U.S. Rep.?Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota,?met with?representatives of the American Soybean Association?and the South Dakota Corn Growers Association.??
The conversation?included?carbon banking,?a?Biden administration proposal?intended to reduce carbon emissions?that contribute to climate change. Companies?involved in polluting industries could buy credits from farmers engaged in environmentally friendly, carbon-trapping?practices.??
Kevin Scott is the president of the American Soybean Association. He says?carbon banking?should be voluntary,?but?he?is open to investing in the sustainable practice.??
“We think?there?is a?great opportunity?to store more carbon in South Dakota,” Scott said. “Some of our presenters today have said we are in a great position because we’re increasing our row-?crop production with lower?tillage, reducing water use, increasing the products we’re producing there, so great opportunity for South Dakota to grow in that carbon bank situation.”?
Scott encouraged?farmers to understand?any contracts involving carbon banking. He?said?a single program for carbon banking is not possible because farms vary in practices and soil nutrients.?
Johnson?said?he wants to make sure sustainable practices are accessible and affordable to farmers.??
“Goal number one for us should be make sure that we have a regime where producers can capture the bulk of the value for their conservation practices,” Johnson?said.?
The roundtable participants also discussed biofuel.?
Scott Stahl is the?president of the South Dakota Corn Growers?Association. He?said?the government should consider the full life cycle of?sustainable?technology.??
“These electric cars—they drive them up, they’re plugging them in—that power is coming from coal, that battery is coming from the strip mining of lithium and cobalt that’s devastating the environment where they’re getting these products from,” Stahl?said.?