In this “What’s Working in Ag” segment, we break down everything we think we know about 45Z — and more importantly, everything we don’t know yet.
Here’s what we do know:
• It’s a tax credit tied to renewable fuels
• The money goes to fuel producers — not farmers directly
• It’s tied to something called a CI Score (Carbon Intensity)
• Lower CI scores could mean more value tied to your grain
But after that…
👉 Things get murky fast.
We talk through:
• What 45Z is actually trying to accomplish
• How it could impact corn, soybeans, and aviation fuel demand
• Why farmers might benefit indirectly
• The role of carbon intensity scores (CI scores)
• How practices like no-till, manure, and efficiency factor in
• Why tracking and verification could be a major hurdle
• The reality that rules are still being written while the program is live
And then we get real about the concerns:
• Will farmers actually see any of the money?
• Is this just hype… or a real opportunity?
• Could it raise land rents and input competition instead?
• What happens if it disappears after 2027?
This episode isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about asking the right questions.
We’re building a future episode with real experts on 45Z.
👉 Send us your questions:
📧 connect@farm4profit.com
📱 515-207-9640
We may feature your question on the show.