A Closer Look at RIPE’s Qualifying Practices: Conservation Crop Rotation

RIPE’s researchers continually work to expand the set of practices that would qualify for a $100 per unit payment under the proposed RIPE100 program by collecting research that demonstrates the combined environmental value of climate-smart practices. In April 2022, we approved conservation crop rotation (NRCS Code 328).

Conservation crop rotation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides additional environmental benefits valued at over $240 per acre per year.

We found that farmers who adopt conservation crop rotation provide over $170 in air quality benefits, nearly $50 in water quality benefits, and $12 in soil quality benefits per acre. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 0.2 metric tons per acre, which is about $4 per acre.

Review our methodology and sources in the chart here and access our current list of proposed qualifying practices here.