Empowering the Agricultural Supply Chain
Though the tool is free and publicly available, organizations must join Field to Market to access all data and project management features, and to get direct support from Field to Market staff. General information regarding why sustainability matters for each indicator and how to improve your score are generated for each Fieldprint Analysis.
The Fieldprint Platform does not have field size restrictions. However, we do want to note that the Energy Use and GHG Emission metrics might produce unexpected results when a field is under 1 hectare or 2.5 acres in size.
Project benchmarks are only available to be used by Fieldprint Projects. A Project Benchmark is the average Fieldprint metric value for all fields within a specific project that share the same scope (such as crop type or irrigation). These benchmarks are more meaningful to growers because they reflect results from others in the same region and project. They are calculated as weighted averages of field-level data, which can be area weighted, or production weighted.
National and state benchmarks take publicly available data from USDA for crop production information related to inputs (nutrients, pesticides), outputs (yield), and we create a production profile based on irrigation type (irrigated, non-irrigated). We average five years of data (2008-2012, inclusive) and estimate the metrics using weighted averages at the national and state level.
See Table 4, Fieldprint Platform v5 Sources, using this documentation webpage. The soil carbon stock changes component is a positive value (sources) when emissions are estimated, and a negative value (sinks) when the model estimates carbon sequestration. N2O emissions are not a sink; the model always estimates some N2O emissions. N2O emissions are highly influenced by applications of synthetic fertilizer and manure, and by crop residue amounts after crop harvest. N2O emissions are attributed to the crop that received the nutrient applications.
SWAT+ can simulate processes such as soil carbon dynamics, surface runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, groundwater flow, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling. When coupled with additional calibration and validation against observed data, it aligns with the IPCC’s definition of a Tier 3 methodology. Tier 3 models are characterized by their comprehensive approaches, disaggregation of activity data, and the use of the latest scientific knowledge to provide granular estimates of variables of interest such as greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
By the end of 2025, Fieldprint Platform V5 will incorporate the SWAT+ model, which Colorado State University will validate to simulate soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in the U.S. Corn Belt. This model validation effort focuses on cropping systems that include corn, soybeans, and wheat, among other crops, which collectively comprise 92% of the Field to Market’s project acres. The SWAT+ model implementation by CSU will provide a calibrated model service with localized weather, soil properties, and crop growth modules. Modeling of SOC dynamics for other crops and/or regions outside the Midwest will rely on parameters from the USDA ARS National Agroecosystems Model, built-in parameters, and parameters from the scientific literature. Model uncertainty quantification will be provided for crops and regions with sufficient data.
The model output from SWAT+ should be considered sufficient for Scope 3 reporting.
Generation of carbon credits by SWAT+ is not currently supported.
The GHG Protocol does not have a mechanism to formally approve tools or models in the sense of a certification, recognition, or endorsement program. However, guidance from the GHG Protocol played a significant role in the development of the Fieldprint Platform Version 5. At a later date, Field to Market will release a report describing how output from SWAT+ can be used to align with GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance. For additional context, the “Built on GHG Protocol” recognition was officially closed on August 13, 2024.
Yes, inputs can be filtered by indicator or seen all at once here.
The historical crop interval screener is designed to appear only once, when a new field is created. Once completed, it cannot be triggered again. The only way to re-access the screener is to delete the field and add a new record. If you leave the field unfinished, the screener will remain accessible until it is submitted.
This is a planned feature. There are two short notes in the Soil Carbon documentation about this:
The Fieldprint Platform uses an inventory approach rather than an intervention approach to account for GHG emissions and soil carbon impacts. It is important to note that Fieldprint API data partners can eventually develop intervention approaches with the Fieldprint Platform by creating counterfactual scenarios.