To quantify changes in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) linked to agricultural management, it is necessary to monitor any change in carbon stocks against a baseline through consistent measurement and/ or modeling over time and space. Baseline scenarios are essential for measuring the impact of carbon farming practices, and agricultural management practices in general, on soil SOC. Baselines specify the “business-as-usual” trajectory and provide a reference for tracking SOC changes. This technical paper explores the various baseline methodologies, including static, dynamic, hybrid, specific, and standardized baselines, and discusses their applications in different farming contexts. Selecting a baseline type is critical to ensure the scalability and accuracy of any carbon farming project. We examine the reasons for using different baseline methodologies in real farms in comparison to experimental and control sites, highlighting the practical implications for carbon sequestration projects, and carbon certifications and credits.