Morin Ag Services, Scott Morin’s new division of his excavating company, partners with Lithos Carbon to spread basalt from SGI Kremlin Mine in Pembine, Wis., on farm fields in the area.

SGI is an aggregate and mining company that supplies specialized products for roofing, building materials and agriculture industries in North American. Headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, SGI has six plants, including the one in Pembine.

It produces finely ground basalt during the roofing granule manufacturing process, according to Jason Clark, SGI vice president of innovation, research and sustainability.

That crushed basalt — a type of volcanic rock — is rich in magnesium and calcium, two of the primary elements that capture carbon dioxide through enhanced rock weathering, according to SGI.

SCOTT MORIN PURCHASED a state-of-the-art tractor to evenly spread the basalt — the gray dust spraying out the back — on a farmer’s fields. The basalt provides nutrients to the soil and helps reduce carbon dioxide levels. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

In 2016, SGI determined its crushed basalt could be a strong soil additive that could increase yields in agriculture land.

SGI partnered with Lithos Carbon when it formed in 2022. Lithos Carbon earns revenue by generating carbon credits, which represents carbon removal through permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide in an inorganic form, according to Tyler Lanfear, Lithos Carbon chief of operations.

Lithos Carbon provides crushed basalt at no cost to growers to increase crop yields. But the applications also remove atmospheric carbon forever, turning farmland into permanent carbon capture centers, according to Lithos Carbon — 3 tons of basalt application can capture up to 1 ton of CO2.

Silicate from basalt rock dust has been found to improve crop resilience to drought as well, in turn improving protection against pests, the company stated.

Lanfear said nothing is added to the basalt before it is sprayed onto farm fields and it is organic approved. The basalt is tested as well to ensure the rock dust is free of any heavy materials.

Research teams from Lithos Carbon then measure improvements in crop yields and soil health while reporting on the field’s boosted carbon-capture rate.

Morin became involved with Lithos Carbon when the company was looking for a way to truck materials from Pembine to spread on area fields.

Morin, who also operates Scott Morin Excavating at N21803 Panis Road in Niagara, said he purchased a new tractor and spreader to spread the basalt. The tractor is GPS-enabled, so Morin is able to spread the basalt perfectly even through the fields.

As the ideal times to spread the basalt are pre- and post-harvest, Morin has been busy much of the fall and well into the winter.

To keep his tractor going at other times, Morin said Morin Ag Services also offers field tillage.

Morin describes himself as a “farmer at heart” and said he enjoys his new business working with agriculture in the region.

Farmers interested in having basalt applied to their field can contact Morin Ag Services at 715-251-1301.