Archive Article: 2002/07/05

5 July 2002

Carbon credits for min-till in USA

Fancy some cash for moving from ploughing to minimum tillage? That could be the situation if a practice already seeing widespread use in the US catches on in the UK too.

The offer could be made if the idea proves as successful on this side of the Atlantic as it is in the United States. In the US, companies pay farmers to adopt measures to help reduce carbon dioxide production. Moving from ploughing to min-till achieves that by reducing the oxidation of organic matter in the soil.

Companies use carbon credits to meet any legal obligations to reduce pollution. It is a process that benefits industry, farmers and the environment. It should be encouraged.