The TopSoil Podcast

Latest Episodes:

45Z From Start to Finish: What Farmers Need to Know | TopSoil Webinar Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

What does a farmer actually need to do to prepare for 45Z?
In this TopSoil Webinar, Continuum Ag CEO Mitchell Hora and VP of Operations Carolyn King walk through the 45Z process from the farmer’s perspective, from understanding your Carbon Intensity (CI) Score to preparing your data and records for CI Certification® and potential premium opportunities.
In this webinar, we cover:
• The latest 45Z status and what it means for farmers
• The 5 things every farmer needs to know about 45Z
• Why your CI Score is the starting point
• What farm data and documentation you need
• The difference between a CI Score and CI Certification®
• The farmer’s 45Z journey from sign-up through certification
• A live walkthrough of TopSoil.ag
• What farmers should be doing now to prepare for potential 45Z opportunities
The big takeaway: don’t wait for a premium offer to start preparing. Farmers can get their free CI Score, gather 2025 and 2026 crop records, keep documentation as they go, talk with their grain buyer or ethanol plant, and begin planning for the 2027 crop.
Get your FREE CI Score: TopSoil.ag
Learn more: Continuum.ag

45Z Update: USDA FD-CIC Officially Included in 45ZCF-GREET | Special Press Conference Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Big news for 45Z: USDA’s 45ZCF FD-CIC is now officially included in the updated 45ZCF-GREET model.
In this press conference, Mitchell breaks down the latest updates from the Department of Energy and the IRS and what they mean for farmers, ethanol producers, grain elevators, and the biofuels industry.
Mitchell covers:
- What changed with the updated 45ZCF-GREET model
- How USDA’s 45ZCF FD-CIC fits into 45Z
- What this means for Feedstock Carbon Intensity (CI)
- What farmers and ethanol producers should be doing now
- What still needs to happen as 45Z implementation moves forward
If you're involved in agriculture, renewable fuels, or grain marketing, you won't want to miss this update.
🌱 Learn more about Continuum Ag: https://continuum.ag/
🌱 Get your free Carbon Intensity Score: https://topsoil.ag/
🌱 Join our weekly CI Chit Chat every Tuesday at 7:45 AM CT: https://share.hsforms.com/1N7hYWyOPQBieuXl1p2gu1Qci92n

Carbon Intensity Q & A l Sept 15, 2026 l CI Chit Chat Ep. 106 Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

A lot has happened with 45Z over the past week.
After last week’s 45Z press conference, Mitchell is back on the CI Chit Chat to answer questions about Carbon Intensity, the latest 45Z developments, and what farmers should do now.
If you’re wondering what the recent updates mean for your farm, your CI Score, or potential 45Z opportunities, this episode is for you.
🌱 Get your FREE CI Score at TopSoil.ag
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL ➡️ / @continuumag8789
REGISTER FOR THE CI CHIT CHAT ➡️ https://continuum.ag/ci-chit-chat/
FIND YOUR CI SCORE AT ➡️ https://topsoil.ag

Carbon Intensity Q & A l Sept 22, 2026 l CI Chit Chat Ep. 107 Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Each week, Mitchell hosts the CI Chit Chat to provide you with updates on what the recent updates mean for your farm, your CI Score, or potential 45Z opportunities. Register to join the CI Chit Chat live on Tuesdays at 7:45 AM CST to ask your questions, or follow us on YouTube to catch the replays.
🌱 Get your FREE CI Score at TopSoil.ag
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL ➡️ / @continuumag8789
REGISTER FOR THE CI CHIT CHAT ➡️ https://continuum.ag/ci-chit-chat/
FIND YOUR CI SCORE AT ➡️ https://topsoil.ag

Carbon Intensity Q & A l Oct. 6, 2026 l CI Chit Chat Ep. 108 Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Built for This | Mitchell Hora – 2026 TopSoil Summit Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Built For This isn't just the theme of the 2026 TopSoil Summit—it's the story of Continuum Ag.
In this keynote, CEO & Founder Mitchell Hora shares how years of building soil health tools, helping farmers improve profitability, and preparing for the future have led to this moment. As a seventh-generation farmer, Mitchell has always believed in creating solutions for his own farm that can help farmers everywhere.
What began as a platform focused on soil sampling and soil health has evolved into a complete system for Carbon Intensity, CI Scores, CI Certification, and the opportunities created by the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit—all while staying true to Continuum Ag's mission of driving profitability via improved soil health.
If you're wondering where agriculture is headed next, this keynote explains why we were Built For This.
🌱 Get your FREE CI Score: https://TopSoil.ag
Learn more about Continuum Ag: https://Continuum.ag

45Z Strength & Structure Panel | 2026 TopSoil Summit Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

The future of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit depends on more than just policy—it depends on understanding how verification, compliance, tax incentives, and risk management all work together.
In this expert panel from the 2026 TopSoil Summit, Continuum Ag Vice President of Operations Carolyn King moderates a discussion featuring four industry leaders who break down the critical pieces of the 45Z program and what they mean for farmers, ethanol producers, grain elevators, and agribusinesses.
Featured Panelists:
🌱 Jack Sodak – Compliance Auditor & Lead Verifier, EcoEngineers
Jack specializes in greenhouse gas verification and renewable fuel compliance, with extensive experience supporting LCFS, RFS, 45Z, and other low-carbon fuel programs. He shares what verification looks like in practice and what farmers and biofuel producers should expect moving forward.
🌱 Molly Stevens – Analyst, Mickelson & Company
Molly works with renewable energy tax incentives, helping ethanol producers understand and monetize the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
🌱 Jonathan Sherrill – Senior Vice President, National Business Development, Aon
Jonathan brings more than 20 years of experience in agriculture, supply chain strategy, regenerative agriculture, and risk management, offering perspective on how markets are evolving around low-carbon agriculture.
🌱 Jamey Cline – Christianson PLLP
With more than two decades of experience in agriculture and bioenergy, Jamey discusses the opportunities 45Z creates for farmers, ethanol producers, and the renewable fuels industry while drawing on his leadership experience with NCGA, Edeniq, and renewable fuel business development.
Whether you're preparing for 45Z, working to lower your Carbon Intensity Score, or looking to understand how farmers can participate in the future of low-carbon fuels, this panel provides practical insights from experts helping shape the industry's next chapter.
Learn more about Continuum Ag and Carbon Intensity at https://www.continuum.ag

Building the Industry. Building the Opportunity. | Geoff Cooper - 2026 TopSoil Summit Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

What does the future hold for the biofuels industry, and what role will farmers play in building it?
In this keynote from the 2026 TopSoil Summit, Renewable Fuels Association President & CEO Geoff Cooper shares his presentation, "Building the Industry. Building the Opportunity."
Geoff discusses the momentum behind renewable fuels, the importance of Carbon Intensity (CI), the opportunities created by the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, and why collaboration between farmers, ethanol producers, and the broader agriculture industry is essential for long-term success.
Whether you're a farmer looking to participate in low-carbon markets, an ethanol producer navigating 45Z, or an agribusiness leader following the future of renewable fuels, this keynote provides valuable perspective on where the industry is headed and how we can build new opportunities together.
🌱 Learn more about Continuum Ag: https://continuum.ag/
🌱 Get your FREE Carbon Intensity (CI) Score: https://topsoil.ag/register/customer

Real Farmers. Real Decisions. Real Opportunity. | Farmer Panel – 2026 TopSoil Summit Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Hear directly from the farmers who are living the changes happening across agriculture.
In this featured panel from the 2026 TopSoil Summit, three innovative producers share how they're approaching Carbon Intensity (CI), regenerative agriculture, profitability, and the emerging opportunities created by the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit.
From conservation practices and low-carbon grain markets to global farming, farm profitability, and the future of agriculture, this discussion offers practical insights from producers who are making real-world decisions every day.
Featured Panelists:
🌱 Andy Bensend – Fourth-generation Wisconsin farmer recognized nationally for his leadership in conservation, no-till, strip-till, cover crops, variable-rate nutrient management, and identity-preserved grain production.
🌱 Hans Riensche – Sixth-generation Iowa farmer and 2024 Nuffield International Farming Scholar focused on sustainability, regenerative agriculture, carbon markets, and on-farm innovation.
🌱 John Carroll – Agribusiness leader managing farming operations across the United States and Brazil, bringing a unique global perspective on agriculture, profitability, and long-term strategy.
Whether you're a farmer, agronomist, ethanol producer, ag retailer, or simply interested in the future of agriculture, this panel provides valuable perspectives on where the industry is headed and how producers can position themselves for the opportunities ahead.
Subscribe for more presentations and discussions from the 2026 TopSoil Summit, including keynotes, 45Z updates, and farmer-focused conversations.

Building the 45Z Foundation l Tom Vilsack - 2026 TopSoil Summit Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

In this keynote from the 2026 TopSoil Summit, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack discusses why 45Z represents both a challenge and an opportunity for agriculture. He shares why creating a connection between on-farm conservation practices and low-carbon fuel markets is important, the hurdles that still remain, and what farmers, ethanol producers, and industry leaders must do to build a lasting framework for the future of the biofuels industry.
If you're involved in agriculture, ethanol, or biofuels, you won't want to miss this 30-minute keynote. Secretary Vilsack explains why the groundwork for 45Z was created, what's at stake for rural America, and what needs to happen next for farmers and the renewable fuels industry to fully realize the opportunity ahead.
🌱 Learn more about Continuum Ag at https://continuum.ag/
🌱 Get your free CI Score at https://topsoil.ag/

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