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As the issue of global climate change
heats up on Capitol Hill, the agriculture industry needs to be front and
center during the policy-making deliberations. Farmers and ranchers
could be significantly impacted by efforts to restrict greenhouse gas
emissions. That is why it’s important for lawmakers to recognize
agriculture’s contributions to reducing these emissions and not approve
policy that will adversely affect our ability to provide a safe and
abundant food supply.
U.S. agriculture is poised to play a unique role in the climate
debate.
But, if we don’t go about climate change policy the right way, it will
be farmers, ranchers and consumers who ultimately pay the price.
A cap on greenhouse gas emissions could be devastating to farm and
ranch businesses. Agricultural inputs that rely on natural gas would
increase in price. Fertilizer costs, already high due to the soaring
price of natural gas, would escalate even more, forcing farmers to make
difficult choices. Increased fertilizer demand around the world would
drive prices even higher, and could make fertilizer availability even
more of a concern than cost.
Climate policy could severely impact farmers and ranchers by
raising fuel, fertilizer and energy costs so high that it will no longer
be economical to farm. In the end, it’s the consumer who will feel the
aftereffect of these negative impacts on agricultural production, which
would ultimately drive up the cost of food.
It’s critical that any climate legislation ensures that farmers and
ranchers can continue producing the food and fiber that feeds our nation
and the world at an affordable price.
If done right, practical climate policy would provide opportunities
for producers to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a number
of ways, including removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and
storing it in the soil, reducing emissions through manure and soil
management, and the production of biofuels. Further, livestock
greenhouse gas mitigation activities can convert greenhouse gases to
energy, a seemingly ideal strategy because it reduces reliance on fossil
fuels. Many farmers and ranchers have already adopted these carbon
reduction and sequestration practices, which should be recognized in any
forthcoming legislation.
Policymakers should reject provisions that would undercut or
compromise the ability of U.S. producers to compete in international
trade.
Farmers and ranchers have a lot at stake as our nation moves
forward in deliberating and formulating climate policy. Keeping our eye
on the ball and an iron in the fire is not only important for the
agriculture industry, it’s critical for the long-term sustainability of
stable food production.
Bob Stallman
President
AFBF
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