Farmers who use regenerative agriculture practices could soon have more opportunities to earn additional income through the renewable fuels market under a newly finalized rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA has finalized its Production of Regenerative Agricultural Biofuel Feedstocks rule, along with an updated USDA Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator, giving producers a standardized way to measure the environmental benefits of conservation practices used to grow crops for biofuel production.
The new rule is designed to help farmers document reductions in carbon intensity when supplying feedstocks for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Industry leaders say those measurements can create additional value as demand for lower-carbon fuels continues to grow.
Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed the announcement, saying the changes will help producers participate more effectively in expanding renewable fuel markets.
"These rules will help farmers get more value from the expanding domestic market for biomass-based diesel," said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. "We appreciate USDA's responsiveness to industry input and simplification of the calculator."
According to the organization, the updated carbon intensity calculator is intended to be more user-friendly while providing producers with practical tools to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices such as regenerative farming.
The finalized rule also establishes a framework for recognizing those practices when crops are used as feedstocks for renewable fuels, potentially opening new revenue opportunities for producers while supporting lower-carbon fuel production.
Clean Fuels Alliance America said it plans to continue working with USDA to broaden the program by adding more approved feedstocks and conservation practices in future updates.
Supporters say the changes represent another step toward strengthening domestic markets for biomass-based diesel while encouraging conservation practices that can improve soil health and reduce agriculture's carbon footprint.