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CI Scores
Learn More About the Value of Knowing Your Carbon Intensity Score
How is CI Score Figured?
A Carbon Intensity Score gives a real, concrete number that measures the carbon footprint. Without an actual CI score, you’re essentially guessing about your carbon footprint – and could end up applying efforts and resources in the wrong direction.
Knowing your CI Score helps ensure you get the most bang for your buck for all the practices you are already doing to be sustainable on your farm.
The Lower Your Score - The More You Can Earn
Another reason CI Scores have been getting a lot of attention in the agriculture industry lately is because of the potential to solve one of farming’s longest-standing challenges: Price Control.
Historically, growers have had little to no control to establish their own price for their crops… Until now.
Thanks to the lucrative 45Z tax credits, grains that are produced with lower total carbon emissions are highly desirable to end-users in the biofuels industry. Like anything, high demand means higher prices, especially if you have the right kind of supply.
Remember, every point you can bring your CI Score down from industry averages, the more profitable it is for biofuel refiners… and for you.
Reducing Your CI Score
Once you know your CI Score, the next step is finding ways to lower it. Here are just a few of the top methods that can help lower your score:
- Yield– higher yields spread emissions over more bushels, lowering the average score
- Plant a cover crop
- Implement reduced or no till
- Reduce inputs – Such as NPK, fuel, and chemicals
- Apply manure
In general, the more you compound these practices, the lower your CI score will be. The lower the score, the more value provided to the ethanol industry, allowing you the ability to negotiate a higher price for your grain.
What is a CI Score? Click the video above to have the CEO & Founder of Continuum Ag, Mitchell Hora, answer that question for you!
See the Difference Various Tactics Can Make
5 Reasons to Get Your CI Score
- It is completely FREE!
- We have simplified the data collection and we ask the questions in farmer language because we ARE farmers.
- It takes less than 15 minutes to get your CI Score
- We display your CI score in the units that are laid out in the law around Section 45Z using the most current and thorough GREET calculator.
- You (the farmer) will own 100% of your data, we don’t share your score with anybody. You have complete control over who gets access to it.
Plus, an added bonus…If you want help improving your score, our agronomists can help show you ways to lower your score.
Carbon Intensity (CI) Score
A CI Score is the carbon footprint score assigned to a bushel of grain, biofuel, or other product. The score is linked to the unit of production and is used with quantifying the total carbon footprint of a company or product.
A CI Score of 0 equates to carbon neutrality, the higher the score, the poorer impact the creation of the product has on the environment. Today, the estimated national average CI Score for corn is 29.1kg CO2E/mmBtu, measured with units specifically for ethanol production.
Frequently Asked Questions about CI Scores
What is a County Default CI Score?
According to the Argonne GREET Feedstock Calculator, each United States County has a given default CI Score for crop production. Typically the CI Score ranges 28-30.
How does TopSoil adjust when there are updates to the GREET model?
Our system is directly linked to the GREET model and automatically updates when there are changes. Users with existing CI Scores will be notified of how these updates may affect their scores.
Why would a CI Score matter if you are not selling crops to biofuel?
In the future, we anticipate CI Scores becoming integral to all industries and markets. Staying ahead of these programs is crucial for gaining a competitive advantage.
How would optimizing nutrients impact a CI Score?
Optimizing nutrients would lower the CI Score. The energy associated with fertilizers, fuel, and other inputs contributes to the CI Score, so reducing these inputs results in a lower overall score.
How do biological carbon scores fit into Carbon Intensity Scores?
Currently, these two scores don’t have a direct relationship impacting overall scores. However, maintaining healthy soil can reduce the need for fertilizers, improving yield and subsequently lowering the CI Score.
Will farmers receive compensation based on the difference between their CI Score and the Average CI Score?
We anticipate that farmers will be paid based on how much lower their score is compared to the default score for their county.
What is the cost of obtaining a personalized CI Score?
The cost is FREE and you can start by creating a Farm Profile on TopSoil.Ag.
Where did the Default CI Score of 29.1 come from?
29.1 comes from the Argonne National Lab’s Default Score for Champaign County, Illinois (Default County of Feedstock Calculator). At Continuum Ag we’ve chosen this number for simplicity purposes.
Why is a collaboration between farmers and biofuel producers crucial for lowering CI Scores?
Biofuel companies rely on low-carbon crops from farmers as one method to earn credits, while farmers depend on these credits to monetize their scores. The collaboration between the two is essential, as they complement each other in achieving their respective goals.
What are the average CI Scores for petroleum gasoline and corn-based ethanol?
Petroleum gasoline has a score of nearly 100, while ethanol has a score most often in the mid-50s.
Is it advisable to delay obtaining my CI Score?
No, it’s not necessary to wait. The GREET model undergoes occasional minimal changes, and since TopSoil utilizes the actual GREET model, any updates can be readily incorporated. Your CI Score, if purchased today, will automatically be updated in your TopSoil account whenever necessary.
What is the average Carbon Intensity (CI) Score for a midwestern farmer?
Through our pursuit of scoring 1 billion bushels, we have found the average CI Score of approximately 11. To see our most up-to-date statistics, visit our Billion Bushel page on our website.
How can I figure out my CI Score?
Getting started is easy with our dealer network and consultants available to assist you. Visit TopSoil.ag to begin the process.
What is Carbon Intensity? And what is a Carbon Intensity Score?
Carbon Intensity is Continuum Ag’s Suite of Services designed to help farmers quantify and monetize their data. This includes measuring the carbon footprint associated with producing agricultural products, such as a bushel of grain.
A Carbon Intensity Score is the specific measurement used to assess this impact, reflecting the total carbon emissions involved in production. The score provides a concrete number to gauge the effectiveness of practices aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
How can I determine the value of my CI Score?
The value will be subject to producer-specific factors. We estimate that each point lowered is worth approximately $0.054 (or 5.4 cents) per bushel. A free profile on TopSoil.ag provides access to the CI calculator for precise calculations.
What is considered a good CI Score?
You want your Carbon Intensity (CI) Score to be as low as possible, with the goal of staying below your county default. Ultimately a score of 0 signifies Carbon Neutrality while a negative score signifies Carbon Negative production.
Why should you know your CI Score?
Knowing your score and verifying your practices is critical to capitalize on 45Z tax credits. Data will be paramount and the IRS has already released guidance in regards to verification. We are bullish on the long-term concept and see other emerging programs on the horizon.