Carbon farming not new

Re: “Carbon farming needs clear rules,” July 5 commentary

As one raised in, still connected to, and educated in the world of crop and animal production, I take issue with the authors’ supposed newly discovered farming methods.

Good farmers have been actively returning carbon in various forms to the soil for well over 100 years. Pasture and crop rotation has been promoted by universities and practiced since the early 1950s. So-called regenerative agriculture has nothing to do with one’s race or ethnicity. Crops, soil, cattle and hogs don’t care about racism. Minority farmers today have access to programs and capital unavailable to others.

If you advocate subsidies for rebuilding carbon-rich soils, every acre rebuilt is a positive thing. The size of the operation should make no difference. Often, the reason an operation is large, or has become large, is because they are better farmers, are better agronomically, and thus become more profitable and use the profits to expand. They have better vision, use better farming methods, and produce more food for the world. Pretty good, isn’t it? So why punish them by making them pay for subsidies for their less adept competitors?

Based on the article, it seems the ”soil-based solution center” at CSU is nonsense, and a waste of taxpayer money. Carbon credits are equally foolish and do nothing to actually reduce emissions or sequester carbon. These credits simply transfer money to different pockets.

Jim Herickhoff, Fort Collins