The Scoop Podcast: How To Gear Up For Carbon And Sustainability Programs

Tim Hushon, sustainability and technology director at The Mill, details how sustainability factors into their ag retail business and how to partner with farmers on the technology adoption required. 

Hushon shares his role is focused on carbon markets, conservation focused efforts and emerging sustainability opportunities for growers, and therefore it ties directly into the technology required for those programs. 

“This ranges from the recommendation to the fertilizer application,” he gives as an example. “We ultimately need to be gearing up toward sustainability. Growers need to make sure that they're collecting the data, and accurately recording the data. The value of data is only increasing year in and year out.”

He says it is a challenge at times to get all the records assembled and it often requires piecemealing it together to get the puzzle pieces in place. 

The Mill has been involved in carbon programs for three years, and Hushon shares there have been challenges to find farmers and fields who can qualify for carbon opportunities requiring a practice change. Many of their growers across Maryland into Pennsylvania and the Delmarva region are long time no-tillers and have been using cover crops. 

Therefore, for the growers he works with, he sees greater opportunities with nitrogen reduction programs. He points to federal programs identifying particular watersheds. 

“We’re trying to figure out how we can get involved and help coach these growers to participate, and ultimately may lead to them spending less money on inputs, which is pretty novel for a fertilizer dealer,” he says. 

Hear more from Hushon, including details about the new equipment technology the team at The Mill is taking to the field in 202 4 in The Scoop Podcast.