Biochar for Climate-Smart Farms in Missouri

This project would provide direct on-farm assistance and support to convert on-farm ag-waste into biochar, a soil amendment, for Missouri farms and measure and market the resulting climate-smart commodities. The Missouri Organic Association (MOA) plans to launch a pilot program to provide Missouri’s underserved farming community with access to the knowledge, machinery, and support needed to turn their on-farm waste into usable climate-smart farm inputs.

A Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Project expanding markets for climate-smart specialty crops, corn, soybeans, beef and poultry in MO and supporting farmers and ranchers with implementation and monitoring of climate-smart practice Soil Carbon Amendment code #336.

Missouri Organic Association, in partnership with Missouri State University, Lincoln University, CarbonCycle LLC, Five Star Family Farms Inc., Seidel Research and Development Company LLC, and Green Tribes Consulting LLC, has developed an innovative program to provide direct on-farm assistance and support to convert on-farm ag-waste into biochar for 80 Missouri farms over 3 years. Biochar as a soil amendment can be used to improve soil organic matter, soil aggregate stability and habitat for soil organisms, as well as sequester carbon and enhance soil carbon (C) stocks. 

The MO Biochar Based Climate Smart Markets project will involve custom design and construction of the Carbonizer, a small-scale, flexible mobile pyrolysis machine that can be adapted to deploy to a large number of Missouri farms. The development of an on-farm solution allows us the unique ability to go to our agriculture community instead of burdening the expense of loading and transporting ag-waste material over distant locations or implementing hazardous open burning.

• Established Farm Records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA)- specifically having farm, tract, and fields numbers and boundaries established for the land in which you want to enroll.

• The fields you wish to enroll are not currently enrolled in any other financial incentive program for implementing NRCS practice Soil Carbon Amendment #336, such as EQIP or CSP

• You have operational control of the fields you wish to enroll, meaning that you will make and implement the decisions about the farming practices on the land.

• You have a completed form AD-1026 on file with the FSA office or willingness to complete an environmental review to certify Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Compliance.

• You are a current citizen of the U.S. or a lawful alien possessing a valid I-551.

Application

Express your interest in becoming a project participant by sending an email to

MO Biochar Project Director Jackie Casteel jackie@moaorganic.org

Include a short description of your operation and commodities produced, as well as how and where you'd like to incorporate Soil Carbon Amendment #336.