This document discusses strategies to increase soil carbon storage in Illinois agriculture. It notes that agricultural practices have significantly reduced soil carbon levels. Illinois aims to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads in runoff by 45-60% through its Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. The document proposes focusing on practices that optimize carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus benefits. It recommends advocating for funding programs to promote carbon-friendly practices, amending strategies to include soil amendments, and developing policies and market mechanisms to incentivize carbon farming.

1. GETTING DOWN TO THE
ROOT
A Soil Carbon Strategy for Illinois

4. Agricultural production has
resulted in significant losses of
soil and carbon storage
Global carbon debt from
agriculture - 133 Billion metric
tons
Highest losses in the US are in
the Midwest
Change in Soil Organic Carbon stocks, pre-settlement to 2010. Adapted from Sanderman et al. 2017.

5. Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy calls for 45%
reduction in Nitrogen and Phosphorus loadings
Approximately 80% of Nitrogen and 50% of Phosphorus
comes from agriculture
60% of Illinois land is in row crop agriculture, 11.5 million
acres of corn and 9.6 million acres of soybeans

6. Carbon sequestration potential associated with land
management lies in the Midwest
Strategies to restore carbon in the soil:
- Focus on practices that optimize P, N, and C benefits
- Develop novel investment mechanisms and financing infrastructure
- Implement supporting policies
The carbon contained within the soil organic matter is crucial for its role
of keeping greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere, in
cultivating crops, and mediating water quality.

8. • Advocate for funding and redesigning the Partners for Conservation Program into a healthy soils program that
focuses on priority practices;
• Amend the NLRS to include soil amendments and other high potential carbon practices;
• Conduct training workshops for NRCS staff in the Midwest on the suite of existing COMET tools and integrate
financial information into the tools.
• Integrate data from farmers (especially the early adopters) that demonstrate the costs and benefits of implementing
suites of practices into existing farm management databases and planning tools;
• Evaluate potential effectiveness of emerging mechanisms that offer market premiums to producers whose practices
result in environmental benefits;
• Build and expand the capacity of production, collection and distribution infrastructure needed for implementation of
new practices.
• Develop a legislative strategy that includes establishing a taskforce, authorizing a healthy soils program, or
expanding the Partners for Conservation Program to promote carbon farming
PRACTICESFINANCINGPOLICIES