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AFR opposes emissions capOklahoma As the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee continued their mark-up of an emissions cap and trade bill, American Farmers & Ranchers, an Oklahoma based general farm organization and insurance company, announced its' opposition to the legislation. "As the Congress considers climate change legislation, American Farmers & Ranchers remains fundamentally opposed to the concept of mandating caps on greenhouse gas emissions, said Terry Detrick, AFR President. "We do not believe the benefits will outweigh the consequential elements of the concept." The organization, in a letter to House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Rep. Frank Lucas, said that while this bill remains silent on and apparently exempts agriculture from its' own carbon footprint, AFR is specifically opposed to H.R. 2454 because agriculture is not granted credit in this bill for the contributions it already makes and any future contributions to carbon capture. "As young elementary students we were taught how plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Thus the carbon is sequestered through the roots into the soil where it stays until the soil is disturbed. Producers today are increasing efforts to sequester carbon and clean-up the air through no-till farming, and can contribute even more in this arena in the future. Yet there are no provisions that mandate agriculture producers can participate in these credits," explained Detrick. The group also pointed to data presented to them that clearly indicates capping these emissions will drastically increase the input cost of producing food and fiber for this country and the world. The value of carbon credit, which this bill does not grant for agriculture, could vary a lot over time and most likely would not be a dependable offset for our increased input costs resulting from the caps. While marketing agriculture commodities plays an important role in producers profits, input costs play an equal if not larger role. "Given the historical record of compliance by other nations on trade agreements concerning environment relative issues, a cap policy could place U.S. industries at a competitive disadvantage to other companies internationally," Detrick said. AFR's grassroots membership-driven policy states "we oppose additional government regulations without having a proven scientific basis, and unless their cost effectiveness is proven..." "Should H.R. 2454 or any subsequent version cap greenhouse gas emissions, AFR policy states "we support payments from private industry to agriculture for storing carbon in the soil." "If carbon emissions are capped and credits issued, AFR wants a significant mandatory percentage of these credits be preserved for agricultural producers," explained Detrick. AFR favors the elected members of the Congress of the United States shape policy rather than be left to the will of unelected personnel in regulatory agencies. They also prefer the Agriculture Committee have jurisdiction over the development of the carbon credits initiative and agricultural offsets with oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The group also complemented Congressman Lucas for his stand on behalf of America's farmers and ranchers.
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