Published:
While Congress is fighting attempts by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse emissions and lawmakers'
inability to pass comprehensive energy legislation to address climate change,
farmers are losing money because of that uncertainty, according to
Nebraska Farmers Union released information last week from the Chicago Climate
Exchange (CCX) comparing the value of agriculture-based carbon payments based
on today's carbon values of 15 cents per metric ton compared to the 2008
average annual CCX price of $4.72 per metric ton.
Hansen said it is important for farmers, ranchers and elected officials to
better understand the amount of dollars being lost due to climate change
uncertainty.
According to Hansen, the Chicago Climate Exchanges estimated the market value
difference between the current 15 cents per ton compared to the 2008 marketing
year average price of $4.72 per metric ton a loss of $17,993,150 in earned
income for
Hansen said Nebraska Farmers Union, one of the three largest aggregators of
carbon in the state, divided the number of
He said that in a year of higher production costs, a reduced federal farm
income safety net, and struggling grain and livestock commodity prices, that
amount of lost income is significant.
"These market-based carbon sequestration payments go to farmers and
ranchers who sequester carbon by utilizing good conservation practices, which
also improve water quality, air quality, reduce fossil fuel use, and improve
the water holding and fertility of the soil," he said.
Hansen said the majority of the reports and analysis done comparing the
additional costs to the new revenue streams from a regulatory system designed
to reduce carbon emissions similar to HR 2454 passed by the House show that
agriculture comes out far ahead compared to allowing Environmental Protection
Agency regulation of greenhouse gases, as is now proceeding.
The
"The climate policy uncertainty caused by the failure of Congress to
effectively deal with carbon emissions is turning a win-win opportunity gain
into a lose-lose for all forms of farmer-produced renewable energy, national
energy independence, rural economic development, green jobs creation, the
environment, wind energy development, and the economy as a whole," he
said. "It is time to put partisan politics aside, and in the interest of
our children and generations to come, move our nation forward."
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