The 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit officially went into effect on January 1, 2025, and is locked in until 2029, but we’re still waiting on the rules.

In this episode of CI Chit Chat, Mitchell Hora breaks down what this means for farmers, how Carbon Intensity (CI) Scores tie in, and why understanding your CI Score now is key to preparing for low-CI grain opportunities.

 Topics covered:
- 45Z updates and what we know so far
- Why CI Scores matter
- How Continuum Ag and TopSoil are helping farmers get paid for better practices

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
0:00 45Z Update
7:15 R&D Tax Credits
13:03 Fall Prep for 2026

Learn more and get your free CI Score: https://topsoil.ag/

On Episode 77 of CI Chit Chat (Sept. 30, 2025), we dug into how farmers and landowners have been unlocking hidden farm income through R&D Tax Credits. 🚜

Did you know many operations could turn $3 into $10–$11/acre with this overlooked program? Thanks to a 3-year lookback (2022–2025), the opportunity is real...and it’s helping farmers capture value for work they’re already doing.

SE Iowa Farmer Brian Hora and Continuum Ag Sales Agronomist Dale Lyons shared how farmers are taking advantage of this program and why it matters right now.

Learn more: https://continuum.ag/rd-tax-credits/

Cover crops play a key role in building soil health, managing risk, and improving farm profitability. In this TopSoil Webinar, we bring together experts to share practical strategies and real-world insights you can apply on your farm.

Featuring:
🌱 Mitchell Hora – 7th-generation farmer & CEO of Continuum Ag
🌱 Theresa Pedretti – Sales Agronomist & Certified Crop Adviser, Albert Lea Seed
🌱 Carolyn King – VP of Operations, Continuum Ag

In this podcast, you’ll learn:
- How to match the right cover crop seed to your field conditions
- Strategies to strengthen soil health and resilience
- Practical tips for integrating cover crops into your farm management plan
- How regenerative practices can open new opportunities in agriculture

👉 Learn more about Continuum Ag and get your free CI Score at: https://topsoil.ag/

Join Continuum Ag’s Mitchell Hora and Faith Larson of Mickelson & Co. for an in-depth discussion on the evolving world of federal tax credits, including 45Z tax credits. With new opportunities rapidly emerging, biofuel producers and farmers need to understand how to strategically position their operations to capture value.

Mickelson & Co., a leading tax credit brokerage, shares insights on what’s happening behind the scenes, what changes to watch for, and how producers can maximize the impact of their carbon-reduction efforts.

📌 Topics Covered:
- Latest updates on 45Z and federal incentives
- How tax credit brokerage works for agriculture and biofuels
- Ways to prepare your operation for success
- Opportunities to profit from sustainability practices

➡️ Get your free CI Score at https://topsoil.ag/

In this 75th episode of CI Chit Chat, Continuum Ag CEO & Founder Mitchell Hora dives into the latest updates on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and shares an exciting new opportunity for farmers to tap into R&D tax credits.

Mitchell covers:
✅ Where things stand with 45Z and what farmers & biofuel producers should be doing now
✅ How tax credit brokerage works (and why it matters for biofuel plants & farmers)
✅ The importance of knowing your CI Score and preparing farm data
✅ Opportunities beyond 45Z, including R&D Credits and cost-share programs that can improve farm profitability

Whether you’re a farmer, biofuel producer, or industry stakeholder, this episode breaks down what you need to know to be ready when the final rules hit, and how to capture value from multiple programs today.

👉 Get your FREE CI Score at: https://topsoil.ag

👉 Learn more about Continuum Ag: https://continuum.ag

Don’t forget to subscribe to stay up to date on the latest CI and ag tax credit opportunities!

Stay up to date with everything related to Carbon Intensity (CI), 45Z tax credits, sustainable ag markets, and more on our weekly CI Chit Chat series!

Whether you're a farmer, ag business, or just trying to make sense of where things are headed, this series helps you stay in the know.

Stay up to date with everything related to Carbon Intensity (CI), 45Z tax credits, sustainable ag markets, and more on our weekly CI Chit Chat series!

In Episode 72, Continuum Ag’s CEO & Founder Mitchell Hora shares the latest updates, answers farmer questions, and provides valuable insights into what’s happening in the low CI grain and clean fuel space.

Whether you're a farmer, ag business, or just trying to make sense of where things are headed, this series helps you stay in the know.

The 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit isn’t “coming”—it’s here. In Episode 71 of CI Chit Chat, Mitchell breaks down what the finalized 45Z timeline means for ethanol producers and row‑crop farmers alike, why real‑world Carbon Intensity (CI) scores are suddenly non‑negotiable, and the exact data you’ll need on hand to capture the new premiums.

🔑 What you’ll learn:
- How 45Z got locked in through 2029
- Questions from farmers about CI scoring
- What ethanol companies must sort out before harvest
- Quick checklist to get your field data “audit‑ready”
- Free tools to calculate your CI Score on TopSoil.ag

⚡ Action step: Start entering your 2024‑25 field data today so you’re ready to claim low‑CI premiums when the market flips on.

In Episode 70 of CI Chit Chat, Mitchell Hora discusses the latest updates on the Big Beautiful Bill currently being worked on in D.C., with hopes that it will be signed by the end of the week. The bill includes 45Z — the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit — which could be a game-changer for agriculture. Mitchell also shares exciting news: Continuum Ag was named Business of the Week by Senator Joni Ernst!