Ag Groups Outline Cap and Trade Concerns
Posted: March 31, 2009
As the concept of limiting carbon dioxide emissions in the form of so-called “cap and trade” legislation gets closer to reality, agriculture groups have drawn up a list of guiding principals for Congress to consider when it comes to regulating greenhouse gas emissions and the impact it could have on farming and ranching.
A dozen ag organizations joined together to outline nine key principals regarding greenhouse gas cap-and-trade legislation which they have sent to Capitol Hill.
The nine issues outlined in the briefing document include:
1. The agriculture sector must not be subject to an emissions cap.
2. Any cap-and-trade legislation must fully recognize the wide range of carbon mitigation or sequestration benefits that agriculture can provide.
3. Legislation must be structured so that it makes economic sense for agriculture.
4. USDA should promulgate the rules and administer an agricultural offsets program (as opposed to EPA).
5. The use of domestic offsets must not be artificially limited.
6. Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation rates must be based on sound science.
7. Any cap-and-trade legislation must provide an initial list of project types that are eligible agricultural offsets.
8. Legislation should recognize early actors.
9. Legislation should not prohibit stackable credits or participation in multiple programs when multiple benefits are achieved for the same practice.
The organizations that have endorsed the principles document include the National Corn Growers Association, American Farmland Trust, the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Conservation Districts, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Farmers Union, the National Milk Producers Federation, the Public Lands Council, the United Fresh Produce Association and the Western Growers Association.
