As the demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) markets grows, conservation practices like no-till farming and cover cropping are becoming increasingly important. Corn farmers are beginning to use conservation practices for the option to sell to companies wanting ethanol for SAF. Reducing the number of trips across the field, implementing minimal or no-till farming, and utilizing cover crops can significantly lower the Carbon Intensity (CI) score of corn used for SAF.
Justin Rahn, an Illinois corn farmer, recently went to the SAF conference, Illinois Future of Fuels: Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Beyond Conference, held by Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA). Rahn spoke on a panel during this conference to talk about the conservation practices he partakes in and how they affect his farm. Attendees unfamiliar with farming practices were able to ask him questions about sustainable practices and learn their impacts directly from a farmer.
Reducing Carbon Intensity with Conservation Practices
"Fewer trips across the field, minimal tilling, and cover crops help reduce carbon emissions," Rahn explained. Some cover crops contribute by putting carbon directly into the soil, further improving sustainability by using crops as opposed to machines to implement carbon into the soil.