Brownfield interviewed Basso during the Great Lakes Sustainable Fuel Symposium in Detroit on Wednesday.
An ag researcher says farmers can start planning management changes that could help them benefit from 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit.
Michigan State University’s Bruno Basso tells Brownfield, “I think the biggest and the lowest hanging fruit is to optimize nitrogen management because that has so many additional benefits—water quality issues, the opportunity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and costs.”
The carbon intensity scoring also recognizes no till, reduced till, cover crops, nitrification inhibitors, and a few other conservation practices.
“They’re investments that pay off on a much longer term,” he says. “And that’s why it’s critical to support farmers during this transition, because planting a cover crop in one year doesn’t necessarily improve the bills.”
Basso says good farm data will help identify ways to further reduce carbon and get the most benefits.
The U.S. Treasury is expected to finalize 45Z regulations in November.
