Qualifying farmers can earn up to $25 per ton of carbon stored in soil
(Arden Hills, Minn.) – Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, today announced the opening of an additional one-month sign-up period for its 2022 carbon program. Truterra enrolled an initial cohort of farmers beginning in December 2021 and is looking to drive additional supply through this second enrollment opportunity to meet buyer demand. After successful verification, farmers can earn up to $25 per ton upfront for new carbon stored in soils.
The 2022 Truterra carbon program builds on the results generated by its 2021 program, which resulted in more than $4 million in payments to participating farmers, who sequestered over 200,000 metric tons of carbon. Truterra offers farmers greater earning potential by paying based on results – actual carbon stored – rather than a set payment per acre.
“We are extremely proud to be rewarding farmers for their stewardship of their natural resources and the work they are doing to store carbon in their soils,” said Jason Weller, President, Truterra. “We continue to learn from farmers and ag retailers and improve our program to best fit their needs and support their transitions to more sustainable practices that will hopefully open up new profitability opportunities for their operations and improve their soil health for the long-term.”
Farmers are paid in full after successful verification and Truterra covers all soil sampling and verification costs, including one-on-one data collection support to save time and ensure farmers can stay focused on their operations.
The Truterra carbon program is delivered through their agricultural retail network of trusted agronomy advisors, including 50 participating retailers across 17 states. This network, as part of the Land O’Lakes’ ag retail network spanning over 900 retail owners, brings together insights from the entire food supply chain spectrum to inform successful on-farm sustainability approaches. The full footprint of Land O’Lakes, Inc., including WinField United’s agronomic leadership, provides a unique ability to help customers meet their sustainability commitments while providing new market opportunities for the cooperative system.
The Truterra carbon program offers a unique opportunity for companies and other organizations to support farmers and impact soil health systems across millions of acres, with real results to show for it. As a result, Truterra recently announced it would be continuing its relationship with Microsoft as a buyer of carbon dioxide removals in 2022 and 2023, in addition to its purchases through Truterra’s 2021 program.
For more information and to get started, visit http://www.truterraag.com/enroll
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About Truterra, LLC
Truterra is a leading sustainability solutions provider, advancing and connecting sustainability efforts throughout the food system at scale – from farmers to ag retailers to value chain collaborators including food and fiber companies. Truterra positions farmers for success by providing them tools and resources to establish a stewardship baseline, track progress on every field they farm, access conservation resources, and prepare for ecosystem services market opportunities. The Truterra network brings together the best in agricultural technology and precision conservation to drive sustainability across the food system, feeding people, safeguarding the planet, and supporting farmer livelihoods. Truterra was launched in 2016 by Land O’Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative that spans the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. To learn more, visit www.truterraag.com.
About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2021 annual sales of $16 billion, Land O’Lakes is one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 219 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, Land O’Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O’Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
Media Contact:
Natalie Long
nlong@landolakes.com