Voluntary markets for sequestering carbon and other greenhouse gasses (GHG) have the potential to enhance farmers’ income and help offset the cost of adopting conservation practices, such as cover crops and no-till, according to economists participating in Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) virtual roundtable on emerging environmental markets held last week.

However, Shelby Myers of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Joe Outlaw of Texas A&M University cautioned that farmers should carefully research the market, ask a lot of questions and secure advice from attorneys and other experts before they enter a contract to sell environmental credits. 

In addition, the economists said it will be important for farmers to monitor actions from Congress or federal...