Climate-Smart funds were distributed to each region (Western, Mid-west, South, East) to provide additional support for implementing CEMA 221. The goal is to help reduce the carbon footprint of producers, currently contributing to 10% of the US Carbon Footprint, through conservation practices.
The aim of the CEMA 221 program is to develop 1) a national workforce of qualified individuals (QIs) to facilitate 2) a national database of dynamic soil properties related to soil conservation practices that facilitate prediction of carbon storage and changes. Our role in CEMA 221 is training Qualified Individuals and informing producers about their role in mitigating climate change.
The Soil CoRE team
Our objectives include:
1. Increasing education and awareness of soil health practices among growers, ranchers, and foresters, helping recruit them into NRCS soil conservation programs.
2. Collaborate with USDA-NRCS to create education and training materials to develop a national workforce of qualified individuals to carry out soil sampling for producers enrolled in conservation programs impacting soil carbon.
The Soil CoRE team will train qualified individuals in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming to help monitor carbon levels in soil and practice climate-smart conservation practices on producer lands.
Select the tab the best describes what you need as NRCS conservation planner:
As a NRCS conservation planner, can you tell me more about CEMA 221?
CEMA 221 is the measurement of Carbon in a producer’s soil before and after they implement a conservation practice. It requires multiple steps, outlined below.
As NRCS staff, you already are aware of this part:
The producer will work with a NRCS conservation planner to identify environmental issues on their land, apply for the appropriate conservation practices through financial assisted programs (such as EQIP, CSP), and if the producer is selected into one of those programs, they will be contracted with the NRCS to complete the conservation practice within an allotted time.
They will have an additional contract that outlines CEMA 221 measurements before and after their conservation practice. This is where your involvement is further needed.
- Find a Qualified Individual. Navigate to our Verified Qualified Individual webpage or contact us at soilconservation@boisestate.edu to find a qualified individual in your area. If they do not exist yet in your area, please let us know and we can work towards verifying QIs.
- Pre-work Conference. You will meet with the qualified individual and the producer to determine the type of soil sampling that should be completed on their land. You will review the objectives of the chosen conservation practice, and you will determine the dates the QI will sample the soil. Please be sure to review the General Requirements, CEMA 221 contract, and the EQIP/CSP contract with the QI in order to check off the requirements for the CEMA 221 cover letter. The QI will work with the producer to complete the soil samples on the property, the QI is then responsible for sending the samples to the lab and completing the CEMA 221 paperwork. The CEMA 221 paperwork will be sent to you before final submission.
- Review the CEMA 221 paperwork. All sections and field paperwork must be completed and reviewed by the NRCS staff. Use our rubric to help ensure the QI has met all requirements.
- Incomplete work is sent back to QI. Does the QI need a little extra help with the paperwork? Reach out to the Soil CoRE team (soilconservation@boisestate.edu) for additional support in addressing CEMA 221 paperwork revisions.
- Submit paperwork to State Agronomist. The paperwork will be reviewed by the State Agronomist. If it is rejected, the NRCS and Soil CoRE team can help advise the QI on revisions.
- Repeat. Complete steps 1-6 in 3-5 years for post Carbon soil sample.