MFBF conducts carbon credit workshops

Thursday, November 20, 2008 3:24 PM MST

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Farmers, ranchers and landowners throughout Montana are invited to attend one of 12 carbon credit sign-up workshops across the state on Dec. 1-2 where they will learn how to enroll acreage and earn money from a new commodity…carbon.

The Montana Farm Bureau has teamed up with AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation to help farmers, ranchers and landowners tap into this new revenue opportunity. Payments for carbon credits are available with continuously no-tilled/strip-tilled fields, newly established grassland, as well as rangeland.

“The purpose of these workshops is to assist farmers and ranchers in the carbon credit enrollment process. If you’re attending our workshop, it helps to bring copies of your FSA maps, FSA 578 documents, and CRP contracts, if applicable, for soil enrollment,” notes Scott Kulbeck, MFBF’s director of membership development. “For rangeland enrollments, bring FSA maps (with acreage), turn-in and turn-out dates/management plans, and EQIP and CRP contracts, if applicable. A Montana Farm Bureau or AgraGate representative will assist you in completing your carbon credit enrollment.”

Existing participants in the program are encouraged to attend if they wish assistance in enrolling additional acreage. Existing participants are also encouraged to let their friends and neighbors know about the workshops.

Since 2003, AgraGate has served as the “country elevator” of carbon credits. They combine carbon credits from agricultural offset projects, creating pools of credits, verified by a third party and offered for sale on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). AgraGate has aggregated more than 2.5 million acres so far and has already distributed over $4.2 million to carbon credit participants this year.

“The carbon credits program provides a great way for farmers and ranchers to earn some additional income and be recognized as good stewards of the land,” said Kulbeck.

For more information, contact Kulbeck at 1-888-532-6601, e-mail at scottk@mfbf.org, or visit the MFBF website at www.mfbf.org.

Montana Farm Bureau/Agragate Workshops;

Dec. 1 - 10 a.m. at the Public Library, located at 13 South Central Avenue in Harlowton, Mont.; 10 a.m. at the Wagon Wheel Cafe at 211 Main Street in Ekalaka, Mont.; 1 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel at 201 West 14th Street in Hardin, Mont.; 2 p.m. at the Thee Garage Showroom at 19 West Montana Avenue in Baker, Mont.; 3 p.m. at the Fergus County Farm Bureau office at 301 NE Main Street in Lewistown, Mont.; and 7 p.m. at the Montana Bar located at 111 East Wilson in Broadus, Mont.

Dec. 2 - 9 a.m. at the Rosebud County Library at 201 NOrth Ninth Avenue in Forsyth, Mont.; 10 a.m. at the Hilltop Cafe at the Junction of Montana Highway 59 and Highway 200 in Jordan, Mont.; 10 a.m. at the Custer-Fallon County Farm Bureau office at 305 South Fourth Street in Miles City, Mont.; 2 p.m. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center Explorer Room at 1223 Mulloweney Lane in Billings, Mont.; 2 p.m. at the Roy Rogers Saloon at 205 Spring Street in Terry, Mont.; and 3 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Community Room at 12 Main Street in Roundup.

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