USDA Eyes Reporting Standards, ‘Metrics’ To Bolster Carbon Markets

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is crafting a program to encourage farmers and ranchers to participate in voluntary carbon trading markets, with officials weighing reporting requirements and “metrics” needed to quantify and validate emission-reducing practices in an effort to eliminate barriers to participation. “New markets for climate-smart commodities provide an opportunity and a challenge for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners,” USDA says in a Federal Register notice to be published Sept. 30 on developing a Climate-Smart Agriculture and...