Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-21600-001-016-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2022
End Date: Oct 1, 2025
Objective:
1. Provide tools and calculators that allow potential biochar users to: a) select appropriate biochar products; b) calculate appropriate amendment rates; c) estimate financial costs and benefits of biochar amendment; and, d) estimate greenhouse gas and carbon sequestration benefits from biochar application.
2. Educate biochar producers about the regional market, performance characteristics of biochar, and value of biochar products.
3. Provide training and outreach material to farmers, farm service providers, conservation planners, and biochar producers.
4. Provide NRCS materials to train planners, including electronic and printed media (videos, webinars, fact sheets, and case studies) to implement EQIP practices, including the 336/808 Soil Carbon Conservation Practice Standard and develop a decision support hub for the public by linking tools within the Atlas to websites including the AFT Farmland Information Center Page on Biochar in Agriculture, USBI, and USDA portals.
Approach:
Develop Practical Technical Resources and on-ramping of biochar into agricultural systems by developing webinars, live conversations, factsheets, an NRCS technical note, an information center, professional development, and a final report on challenges and opportunities. This will be accomplished by developing and organizing seminars, factsheets, technicals notes, listening sessions, and other stakeholder liaisoning. Specific approaches include:
A) organizing "Biochar Practical Implementation Webinar Series". To facilitate training regarding the implementation of biochar-based practices. Eight webinars will address information implementation of biochar practices, including the technical use of the Atlas. Webinars will be developed and promoted within the agricultural community and NRCS. The collaborator will co-develop content in consultation with the NRCS and by recruiting experts to present.
B) Biochar Live Conversations. To facilitate information exchange, identify gaps, and conduct outreach, five live conversations with biochar producers, users, and experts will be organized, broadcast, recorded, and posted. The cooperator will organize and promote conversations with the agricultural and biochar community, NRCS, and the general public.
C) Develop factsheets to communicate science-based information regarding the use of biochar in agricultural sectors. Factsheets will be jointly developed by initiative partners. The cooperator will provide direct planning guidance to NRCS and other Agricultural Service Providers, and organize the review process and design. After NRCS approval, factsheets will be posted online, and linked with the Biochar Atlas and available to NRCS for posting on State and National websites.
D). Develop an NRCS Technical Note. This technical note will directly address implementation of the 336/808 Soil Carbon Conservation Practice Standard. The scope and content will be collaboratively developed across project collaboarators in coordination with NRCS.
E). Develop an online Farmland Information Center Page on Biochar in Agriculture. This web-based educational center will provide links to curated content, including NRCS technical materials to ensure the general agricultural community has access to scientifically credible biochar materials.
F). Perform gap analysis to provide a summary compilation of barriers to adoption will be developed by working across the biochar-excited community (researchers, agricultural community, conservation personnel, producers) with links to available information.
G). Biochar education and NRCS inreach. Educational content will be developed and delivered to NRCS State agronomists and other State specialists through regional training sessions. These sessions will also inform efforts to improve usability of outreach tools.
