FOR IMMEDIATELY RELEASE

April 9, 2007

Montana Farmers Union Offers Carbon Credit Program

GREAT FALLS, MT (April 9, 2007) – The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) recently expanded the eligible territory for enrollment of Exchange Soil Offsets (commonly referred to as carbon credits) to include 28 counties in Montana.  Credits can be earned for projects involving specified agricultural soil carbon sequestration activities, including no-till farming practices.  In addition, the entire state is eligible for range/pasture land and forestry credits.

Farmers Union’s Carbon Credit Program allows agricultural producers and landowners to earn income by storing carbon in their soil through no-till crop production and long-term grass seeding practices. Farmers Union has earned approval from the Chicago Climate Exchange to aggregate carbon credits. Farmers Union will enroll producer acreages of carbon into blocks of credits that will be traded on the Exchange, much like other agricultural commodities are traded. 

“This is a great opportunity for farmers in Montana to receive income for their acreages,” said MFU Membership Director Jim Sargent, who will coordinate the program, “and they can probably continue doing the same practices that are already in place.”

Montana Farmers Union (MFU) will offer the program signup through its web site for interested producers.  To learn more about the carbon credit opportunity, the requirements and benefits, and to sign up on-line, producers should access the Montana Farmers Union’s web site at www.montanafarmersunion.com, link to National Farmers Union web site, and click on Carbon Credit Program.

The 28 eligible counties in Montana are Big Horn, Blaine, Carter, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Golden Valley, Hill, Liberty, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and Yellowstone.

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