NFU: Rural America Can Benefit From Climate Change Legislation
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2009
Contact: 202-554-1600WASHINGTON (July 22, 2009) – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today told the Senate Agriculture Committee America’s farmers and ranchers can, and want to be, part of the solution to global climate change.
“To state it simply, the cost of no action must become a central part of the ongoing climate change debate. Models of climate change scenarios demonstrate increased frequency of heat stress, droughts and flooding events that will reduce crop yield and livestock productivity,” Johnson said.
Johnson emphasized the importance of a comprehensive legislative approach to addressing climate change. If Congress fails to pass climate change legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This approach would only bring increased energy inputs without the opportunities of carbon offsets.
“Our members accept that they will face increased energy input costs as a result of a cap and trade program,” Johnson said. “However, they do not agree with those who claim climate change legislation will be void of economic opportunities and incentives.”
Johnson pointed to economic analysis released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today. USDA’s economic analysis revealed the benefits of climate change legislation far outweigh the increased costs – annual net returns to farmers range from about $1 billion per year in 2015-20 to almost $15-20 billion in 2040-50, not accounting for the costs of implementing offset practices. The department’s analysis is conservative and it is very likely farmers will do even better than the study indicates.
NFU’s member-developed policy supports a national mandatory cap and trade system to reduce non-farm greenhouse gas emissions if the following conditions are met: USDA is granted control and administration of the agriculture offset program; early actors are recognized; no artificial cap is placed on domestic offsets; carbon sequestration rates are based upon science; and producers are permitted to stack environmental benefit credits.
Johnson said NFU is committed to working proactively and constructively with members of the Senate to pass climate change legislation that works for American farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
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