Dive Brief:

• Farmers using John Deere's precision agriculture technology can access financial incentives for adopting regenerative practices through a partnership with meat giant Cargill, the companies announced last week.

• The partnership allows participants in Cargill's RegenConnect program to use planting, harvest and tillage data collected from Deere's Operations Center platform. Improved functionality is expected to be rolled out over the next several years.

• Cargill’s RegenConnect program pays farmers for improving soil health through regenerative practices including cover crops, no till or reduced till. The partnership streamlines the data documentation process, according to a release.

Dive Insight:

Although more companies have offered incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable practices, it can be difficult and time-consuming to document their progress. 

Cargill is trying to make it as easy as possible for farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture by teaming up with the world's largest agricultural equipment company. With help from John Deere’s precision agriculture technology and digital platform, farmers can have a more seamless digital and in-field experience that opens new revenue streams, the companies said.

"The connection to Operations Center provides Cargill RegenConnect participants the opportunity to learn about the program, manage and implement practice changes, and sync data across systems," Alexey Rostapshov, head of sustainability solutions for John Deere, said in a statement. "This will save farmers time and empower them to make the best agronomic and economic decisions for their farm.”

Farmers will be able to use existing data stored in John Deere’s Operations Center to easily fill in missing information and enroll in Cargill’s RegenConnect program. The companies plan to work together to help farmers adopt and use precision technology and synchronize the flow of information when they opt in to share data between systems.

Cargill has offered financial incentives through its RegenConnect program over the last three years. Payments vary based on a number of factors, including total acreage enrolled, farm conditions and the type of practices implemented, Cargill spokesperson Bridget Christenson said in an email. 

No farmer payment details have been disclosed, she said, but Cargill has raised the amount farmers can earn to $35 per metric ton of carbon sequestered per acre. 

The 2023 RegenConnect enrollment period is available through Sept. 15. Eligible acres must have a primary crop of corn, soy, wheat or cotton.