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Farmers

Rice Producers

Rice producers in the USA that adopt specific sustainable rice cultivation practices can reduce Methane emissions from their rice fields. By working with Climate Smart Group growers can earn a new revenue steam from these emission reductions. We do this by converting the emission reductions into carbon credits and selling them into California’s Carbon market.

The rice cultivation practices that are able to generate carbon credits vary between California and the Mid-South. Qualifying practices in the Mid-South include:

  • Alternate Wetting and Drying (Data Requirements)
  • Early Drainage in Preparation for Harvest Activities

Qualifying practices in California include:

  • Early Drainage in Preparation for Harvest Activities
  • Dry Seeding

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact us to discuss the program.

More information can be found below in our Rice Credit FAQs.

Rice Credit FAQ

What does Climate Smart Group do for me?
Climate Smart Group (CSG) works with you, as your agent to quantify and generate the carbon credits created by implementing eligible practices on your fields. We deal with intricacies of carbon credit generation so that you can focus on cultivating sustainably grown rice. Once the credits are created we will sell them on your behalf and send you a check.
What does it cost?
Climate Smart Group charges no upfront fees for its services.  Instead we earn a commission on the money that is generated from the sale of your credits. We only get paid if you get paid.
What are the eligible processes?

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)
Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is a water-saving technology that farmers can apply to reduce their irrigation water use in rice fields without decreasing yield. In AWD, irrigation water is applied a few days after the disappearance of the ponded water. Hence, the field is alternately flooded and non-flooded. The number of days of non-flooded soil between irrigations can vary from 1 to more than 10 days depending on a number of factors such as soil type, weather and crop growth stage. This practice reduces methane emissions that would otherwise occur on a field that is continuously flooded.

Early Drainage in Preparation for Harvest Activities
Means that fields are drained or dried of standing water earlier in the rice growing season in preparation for harvest.  This practice reduces methane emissions that would otherwise occur if the rice fields were drained or dried on the customary date.

Dry Seeding
Dry seeding means sowing of dry seeds into dry or moist, mon-puddled or non-flooded soil by drilling or broadcasting seeds onto the field. This practice reduces methane emissions that would otherwise occur if the crop was wet seeded.

What do I need to do?
In order to generate credits you need to implement one of more of the eligible practices on one or more of the rice fields that you cultivate.  In order for us to generate your credits you will need to provide us with information about the activities that have occurred on your fields.  In the Mid-South we are working with the White River Irrigation District to make the data collection requirements as easy as possible.
Is it a lot of work?
The effort required to create credits depends upon many things. For growers that are well organized and keep detailed crop records  it isn’t too much work.  The first year is always that hardest and it gets easier as time goes on.