Landus, the largest grain cooperative in Iowa, is expanding its Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) initiative opening doors to new market opportunities for Iowa soybean farmers.
In a Tuesday, July 15 news release, Landus said the expansion was made possible by recent policy changes that are expected to increase Canada’s demand for liquid biofuel. The initiative is in partnership with Verity, a digital platform built to track, trace, and validate sustainability attributes such as carbon data.
As of 2025, soy oil processed at the Ralston Landus location qualifies for this premium market. It resulted in about $750,000 in additional premiums for participants on their 2024 crop. Landus said it will begin distributing premiums to participating farmers after the end of its fiscal year.
Enrollment for the 2025 soybean crop opens in August. Farmers must complete and sign a short harvester declaration, which can be done online, and deliver soybeans to Landus. Signed chain-of-custody documentation must be submitted by early October and prior to delivery. There is no limit to how many bushels can be enrolled, but retroactive enrollment is not allowed.
“The more farmers who participate, the greater our collective impact will be on farm profitability and the future of sustainable agriculture,” Craig Mouchka, Landus’ director of sustainability, said. “We anticipate quadrupling premiums by this time next year and benefiting many more Iowa farmers.”
The new initiative is just one pathway Landus has created to help farmers profit from regenerative practices. In 2025, Landus generated nearly $2 million in additional premiums by enrolling the 2024 crop in sustainability programs.
“These are more than just payments – they’re proof that regenerative practices can generate real, measurable returns,” Mr. Mouchka said. “We’re proud to help farmers turn their regenerative practices into revenue while building a stronger, more resilient agriculture system.”
Sustainability successes
The announcement comes on the heels of Landus announcing that LANDWERX, a first-of-its-kind agricultural innovation hub, will now operate independently. That allows both companies to focus on their separate missions.
Here’s a look at some of Landus’ sustainability successes:
- Carbon Intensity Supply Chain Program – Landus paid $420,000 to more than 40 Iowa farmers who enrolled their 2024 crop in the first-ever Carbon Intensity (CI) Program. The program was in partnership with: Verity; Friona Industries, LP, based in Friona, Texas; and Hereford Ethanol Partners, LP, a privately held Texas investment group. Farmers provided detailed data on their planting, harvesting, equipment use, and regenerative practices to help track the carbon intensity of corn feedstock. With the data, Landus was able to generate credible CI scores, which differentiate the grain and qualify it for market premiums.
- Carbon Ready Program – In partnership with Houston-based Arva Intelligence, Landus paid more than $670,000 to more than 40 farmers enrolling their 2024 crop. These farmers implemented or maintained at least two regenerative practices. For example, no-till, cover cropping, nutrient management, integrated pest management, and more. With average payments of $20.08 per acre, the program offers significant financial incentives for good land stewardship. Landus expects the program to more than double in scale for the 2025 crop year.
The Des Moines-based Landus connects thousands of farmer-owners with the world through grain, agronomy, and distribution, deploying traditional and nontraditional methods fueled by innovation and sustainability. The $3 billion business touches 34 states and 16 countries.
To enroll or learn more about qualifying for sustainability program premiums, contact visit landus.ag.
