IRFA to USDA: Book-and-claim system will spur widespread adoption of climate-smart ag practices

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association made comments during a public-consultation session held Oct. 1 by USDA regarding the potential future rulemakings to facilitate climate-smart agriculture practices (CSA).

Nathan Hohnstein, IRFA’s policy director, urged the department to consider decoupling CSA carbon credits through a book-and-claim system to allow farmers to have maximum participation potential, reiterating initial comments submitted to USDA by IRFA.

“As many have pointed out, there are massive benefits to a book-and-claim model including spurring widespread adoption of CSA by farmers and allowing biofuel producers to source feedstock efficiently, all while easing the enforcement burden of tracking individual kernels or grains by federal regulators…,” stated Hohnstein during the session today. “Such a process would … lower expenses and risk of inaccurate credits, thereby benefiting farmers and increasing adoption of CSA practices.”  

IRFA first submitted comments to USDA in July in response to a request for information on the topic.

Also included in the comments, IRFA agreed with other groups in asking USDA to recognize several more CSA farming practices, less “one-size-fits-all” required bundling, and ensuring farmers receive full credit for the carbon reduction of each practice.

“By decoupling CSA credits from a physical bushel via a book-and-claim process, you truly unlock what farmers do best—meeting market demands,” Hohnstein said. “Ultimately, 45Z holds massive potential for both farmers and biofuel producers. If done right, it can move agriculture towards a cleaner, brighter future.”

A copy of the comments IRFA submitted to USDA in July can be found here.