A.J. Krusemark is committed to farming practices that store carbon in the soil, and he's getting paid for those practices through a carbon bank | Photo courtesy of Krusemark |
President Joe Biden wants American farmers to be the first in the world with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. How we might achieve that goal is still unclear — but one idea getting a lot of attention involves paying farmers to store carbon in the soil, as a way to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
This is called carbon banking, and some see it as one way to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The concept has been around for decades, but it's still finding a foothold in ag-heavy states like Minnesota.
The idea is that carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere, converted and stored as soil carbon. Farmers can then earn credits for the carbon they store, and companies can offset the pollution they cause by buying those credits.
A.J. Krusemark farms with his wife and parents near the southern Minnesota town of Trimont, about an hour southwest of Mankato. His family was already committed to agriculture focused on developing healthier soil, including many of the same practices that make them eligible to sell carbon credits.
Read more about Krusemark's farming and carbon banking.
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The state legislature convening on June 14, the first day of the current special session | Glen Stubbe • Star Tribune via AP |
A few updates from what happened at the Capitol yesterday, as the special session moves along:
- A massive education funding agreement fell into place. School districts will get about 2.5 percent more on their basic student allowance next year and 2 percent the year after. That will bring in above $6,800 per student by year two. Some districts will get extra based on specific challenges or income levels in their areas. This still needs to pass the House and the Senate. Senate Republicans did not get their request to send public money to private schools.
- A $250 million plan to provide bonuses to some pandemic frontline workers. A panel will choose who is eligible, with a goal of having decisions around Labor Day. This also still needs to pass the House and Senate.
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Recent data is more evidence that the pandemic is firmly in check. New cases, active cases and hospital admissions are all trending at levels not seen since the pandemic's earliest weeks.
In late November, we had nearly 300 new COVID-19 hospital patients daily. Now, hospitals are averaging 16 a day — the lowest since April 2020 (before testing was even widely available).
There's an eye on upswings, though, as we approach one month since the end of all remaining statewide COVID-19 capacity limits on bars, restaurants, etc.
So far, though, signs are good.
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