IRFA to USDA: Book and Claim System Will Spur Widespread Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices

System Would Ease Accurate Commodity and Carbon Tracking

Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IA - Today, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) made comments during a public consultation session held by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the potential future rulemakings to facilitate climate smart agriculture practices (CSA). IRFA's Policy Director Nathan Hohnstein urged the Department to consider decoupling CSA carbon credits through a book and claim system to allow farmers to have maximum participation potential, reiterating initial comments submitted to the USDA by IRFA.

"As many have pointed out, there are massive benefits to a book and claim model including spurring widespread adoption of CSA by farmers and allowing biofuel producers to source feedstock efficiently, all while easing the enforcement burden of tracking individual kernels or grains by federal regulators…" stated Hohnstein during the session today. "Such a process would not only lower expenses and risk of inaccurate credits thereby benefiting farmers and increasing adoption of CSA practices."

IRFA first submitted comments to the USDA in July 2024 in response to a request for information on the topic. Also included in the comments, IRFA agreed with other groups in asking the USDA to recognize several more CSA farming practices, less "one size fits all" required bundling and ensuring farmers receive full credit for the carbon reduction of each practice.

"By decoupling CSA credits from a physical bushel via a book and claim process, you truly unlock what farmers do best: meeting market demands. Ultimately, 45Z holds massive potential for both farmers and biofuel producers. If done right, it can move agriculture towards a cleaner, brighter future," said Hohnstein.

A copy of the comments IRFA submitted to the USDA in July can be found here.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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