Napa Valley Carbon Farming

Napa Valley Carbon Farming

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
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Many experts believe that agriculture can sequester enough carbon in the soil to offset emissions. Miguel Garcia agrees. He is the Sustainable Ag Program Manager for the Napa County Resource Conservation District. He helps Napa Valley vineyards implement carbon farming plans and says its good for the environment, and good for business.

Garcia… “When you put carbon back into the soil. You're not only benefiting the environment, but you're benefiting your own operation because carbon is at the center of all biological, chemical, and physical properties in the soil. And when we assess soil health and we determine whether a soil is healthy or whether a soil needs some help, in the end it comes back to carbon. If you have adequate levels of carbon in your soil, that is a good indication that you have a healthy soil because everything revolves around carbon. But when I talk to growers about implementing or starting on carbon farm plan, I always tell them you're doing a great thing for the environment, but also you're doing a great thing for your own soil. And if you have a healthy soil, you're going to have a healthy crop.”

Garcia says interest in these carbon farming practices is growing, but it is still very early days in this process to store more carbon.

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