The Ohio State University’s Soil Research Symposium 2025 held on December 5 at Kottman Hall brought together faculty, students, and researchers to showcase emerging work in soil science and environmental sustainability. Among the featured contributions was the Carbon Farming (C-FARM) project’s poster, “Agricultural Carbon Farming and Carbon Credits: Surveying Farmers’ Needs and Attitudes,” presented by Prasanna Oruganti, 3rd year PhD Student in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) at the Ohio State University.
The symposium provided an important platform to highlight the project’s early findings on farmers’ perceptions of carbon markets, barriers to participation, and conservation practices across Ohio. The poster summarized Phase 1 survey insights, including farmers’ expectations of financial incentives, concerns related to compliance and data privacy, and the critical need for education and outreach on soil carbon and carbon programs.
We are excited to share that the C-FARM poster received first place at the symposium. The award was presented by Dr. Alfred Hartemink from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, honoring the project’s contributions to understanding the evolving landscape of agricultural carbon markets. We are grateful for this recognition, which highlights the strength of the interdisciplinary collaboration among the Department of Extension, the Lal Carbon Center and the FABE, and helps elevate the visibility of our integrated research and outreach efforts statewide.
As the project continues to grow, we are pleased to announce that Phase 2 of the Carbon Markets Survey is now live. Developed using insights from workshops, conferences, and stakeholder feedback, the expanded survey (29 questions) aims to capture a deeper understanding of farmers' informational needs, familiarity with carbon accounting tools, perceived barriers, and willingness to adopt soil health practices that support carbon sequestration.
The survey is open to OHIO farmers, landowners, and agricultural decision-makers, and takes approximately 10–12 minutes to complete. Participants will receive a $10 virtual gift card as a token of appreciation. Responses will directly inform the development of future outreach programs, decision tools, and extension resources to support producers navigating carbon market opportunities.
Survey Link: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Iuy6p1dfEotUwu
We appreciate your help in sharing this survey widely to increase participation and ensure that diverse producer perspectives across Ohio and the broader Midwest are represented. Together, these efforts contribute to the Lal Carbon Center’s mission of advancing scientific understanding and supporting climate smart agricultural systems.
For questions about the survey, please contact:
- Michael Estadt — estadt.3@osu.edu
- Prasanna Oruganti — oruganti.11@osu.edu
- Elizabeth Hawkins — hawkins.301@osu.edu
- Asmita Murumkar — murumkar.1@osu.edu