Carbon Monitoring Project Funded

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 Capital RC&D Receives USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant

(Carlisle, PA) – Capital RC&D was recently awarded a $73,943 grant from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant program to demonstrate new soil carbon monitoring and management tools and technology on multiple farms in South Central Pennsylvania.  An associated goal is to measure the amount of carbon that can be sequestered by farmers for possible participation in carbon markets. 

During this three-year project, partners will work with participating farmers to implement soil health best management practices on crop and pasture land, and use planning tools including the USDA-NRCS Soil Health Management Plan (CPA 116) and COMET-Farm tool to estimate soil carbon increases from the practices. Actual soil carbon levels will be measured using innovative new in-field soil probes and lab processed soil samples. The soil probes will continuously monitor soil carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, pH and soil temperature, and provide real-time feedback throughout the course of the project to farmers and partners. 

Project partners include Climate Smart Environmental Consulting LLC and EQT Corporation. Team Ag will provide agronomic consulting services.  When completed the project will demonstrate soil carbon measurement tools, evaluating data and assess supplemental uses of the soil probe such as providing documentation necessary to participate in carbon credit markets. 

To learn more about the project, partners, or Capital RC&D, visit www.capitalrcd.org/carbonmonitoring 
For more information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email at cburns@capitalrcd.org.