The development of an agricultural carbon marketplace is ultimately a matter of creating a means for farmers to diversify their operations and revenue streams. Such diversification is an important strategy in helping your farm “remain relevant and profitable in the years to come,” according to a report with a leading Midwestern ag economist this week. If you’re considering diversifying your crop mix, it’s best to do so gradually, setting aside five percent of acres — or even that percentage of a single field — and planting it to a specialty crop. But, that specialty crop should be one for which you have marketing opportunities if it’s something worth scaling up down the road. And while adopting carbon-friendly farming practices will soon represent a revenue stream for your operation, make any changes like these in ways that minimize the initial investment and don’t take your attention away from your primary operations. See more tips from a recent diversification discussion.