AgExpert Sustainability Model

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the AgExpert Sustainability Model?

A: AgExpert customers can grow their on-farm sustainability knowledge with the AgExpert Sustainability Model to estimate their carbon sequestration by using selected farm management activities that are entered and tracked in AgExpert Field.

Q: How does AgExpert estimate carbon sequestration?

A: To understand carbon sequestration and emissions, AgExpert Field leverages outputs from Holos™, developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Along with weather and soil data, Holos estimates carbon sequestration by field using field area, crop type, tillage activities, manure applications and yield data already entered in AgExpert.

Q: Why is AgExpert adding sustainability-related features?

AgExpert is adding sustainability-related features to support farmers in their efforts to adopt more sustainable practices and to meet the evolving demands of the agricultural industry. By estimating a user’s carbon sequestration (C), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) for their actual farm operation, they will have a better understanding of their overall sustainability impact. This will help them prove their sustainable business management practices they have already implemented, while identifying others they could potentially adopt. 

Q: What exactly is “carbon sequestration” as it relates to soil organic carbon?
A: Carbon (C) sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Soil organic carbon includes C stored in organic matter, microbial biomass and other organic materials within the soil.
 

Q: What is the difference between measuring carbon sequestration and measuring carbon dioxide emissions?

 A: In agriculture, measuring carbon for sequestration purposes involves quantifying the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the atmosphere and stored in soils, plants or other carbon sinks. This process typically involves assessing the effectiveness of agricultural practices such as conservation tillage, cover cropping and agroforestry, which can enhance carbon sequestration.

On the other hand, measuring CO2 emissions in agricultural farming is quantifying the release of CO2 to the atmosphere due to farm activities such as decomposition of organic matter and burning of fossil fuels for machinery operations.

While carbon sequestration aims to mitigate climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it long-term, measuring carbon emissions helps assess the environmental impact of agricultural practices and identify opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate climate change. Both approaches are crucial for understanding the carbon dynamics in Canadian agriculture and developing strategies for sustainable management.

Q: What are AgExpert’s plans for helping farmers measure other GHGs?
A: In addition to CO2 emissions, nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) are two other major greenhouse gases that farmers can benefit from measuring emissions of. N2O and CH4 are released through various farm management activities, including fertilizer applications, crop residue decomposition and manure management.

At this time, the Holos integration allows farmers to estimate their farm’s carbon sequestration while ability to measure CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions is under development. By measuring greenhouse gas emissions and quantifying how much carbon is stored on their farm,  AgExpert will eventually offer farmers a holistic view of their environmental impact. Farmers will be able to make more informed decisions to reduce emissions and enhance C sequestration.
 

Q: At minimum, what data does Holos require to provide a carbon sequestration estimate?
A: For each field, Holos requires GPS location, total area, crop type and harvest activity.  If applicable, it also requires the tracking of manure applications and the specification of tillage as either intensive or reduced.

Q: How does AgExpert have data on my farm back to 1985?
A:To simulate carbon-accurate estimates, Holos requires a few decades worth of input prior to the current year. 1985 is an arbitrary year set to provide this historical input—the Holos model considers cropping inputs entered by users and creates internal tables of the same cropping sequence going back to 1985.
 

Q: How accurate is the carbon estimate?
A: The more years of activities users record and input, the greater the accuracy of the carbon sequestration estimate. However, it should be understood that precise measurement is not the goal of this feature – the tool serves as a starting point to help Canadian farmers better understand sustainability-related topics on their farm.

Q: How does Holos know what my crop rotation was for years I don’t have digitized in AgExpert?
A: Any data that you have not tracked in AgExpert Field is simulated by Holos. The model takes the years and fields that have crop data and simulates the rotation.

Q: Does Holos include machine usage, transportation or hauling in my estimate?
A: At this time, there is no emission data being factored into the model. Eventually, the model will include emissions related to farm machinery used for completed activities.

Q: Does Holos include shelterbelts, bush and bodies of water in my estimate?
A: While carbon estimates from tree planting in a shelterbelt are supported by the Holos model, it is not yet supported in AgExpert.

Carbon estimates associated with bushes and water bodies of the farm are not currently accounted in Holos and therefore not included in AgExpert.

Q: How come my main carbon sequestration estimate isn’t showing the current crop year?
A: The Holos estimate requires complete field data, including harvest activities (yield). For example, all 2023 activities need to be completed and data inputted before you will see a 2023 carbon estimate.

Q: Is my carbon sequestration estimate shared with anyone?
A: No. As with all AgExpert features, you own your data and always control who you share it with. You’re the only one who sees your individual farm results, and your data never leaves the AgExpert platform.

Q: When comparing my carbon by crop report and carbon by field report, why are the values different?
A: When generating the carbon by crop report, Holos calculates the average annual carbon change in a specific crop type across all fields in the farm. The carbon field report calculates the annual carbon change for each crop on a field-by-field basis. Therefore, these numbers are different as they are influenced by the number of fields where a particular crop is grown.

Q: What insights can we get from the carbon sequestration graph spanning from 1985 to the present year (full estimated history)?

A: An upward trendline indicates that your farm is sequestering carbon while a downward trendline suggests the reduction of farm carbon storage. If the plot is a stable line, it indicates there is no net increase or decrease in carbon storage over time.

Q: Is this a carbon credit program?
 A: No.

<Legal endnote>

To understand the sequestration and emissions capabilities, AgExpert Field leverages outputs from the Holos modelling software developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. All references to carbon sequestration and your use of AgExpert Field, the Holos modelling tool or any resulting estimates or other outputs thereof, are subject to the AgExpert Terms of Use and the Holos GNU General Public License.

Last updated on July 31, 2024 by FCC AgExpert