Getting Paid for Stewardship: An Agricultural Community Water Quality Trading Guide 

Many agricultural producers already know the benefits of implementing conservation practices in their operations. Better soil, cleaner water and greater profits are just some of the advantages. What if producers could earn even more for those same conservation practices? It’s possible with water quality trading.

The reduction in pollution that a producer generates by implementing conservation practices can be “traded” with an industrial or municipal facility that is required by law to reduce the amount of pollution in its wastewater. The best part: the producer will get paid for the trade.

CTIC, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has developed a new guide to help the agricultural advisors understand why producers may want to participate in water quality trading and how water quality trading works.

This guide introduces the elements that are key to the trading process, noting critical questions to keep in mind as you go. References for additional information are also included.

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Download introduction PDF (385 KB)

Download water quality trading body text PDF (295 KB)

Download elements and conclusion PDF (1.8 MB)

Download references and glossary PDF (140 KB)

Download Appendix A PDF (155 KB)

Download Appendix B PDF (131 KB)

Download Appendix C PDF (168 KB)

Download Appendix D PDF (165 KB)

Download Appendix E PDF (553 KB)