With new policy, MFB political ‘climate’ changes regarding greenhouse gases

With new policy, MFB political ‘climate’ changes regarding greenhouse gases

With new policy, MFB political ‘climate’ changes regarding greenhouse gases

With new policy, MFB political ‘climate’ changes regarding greenhouse gases

With new policy, MFB political ‘climate’ changes regarding greenhouse gases

Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040

LANSING, Dec. 8, 2008 — It’s better to be seated at the table rather than an item on the menu. That’s the philosophy behind a new Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) policy regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is addressed in Farm Bureau policy at the national level. But up until last week’s MFB 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MFB had not taken a position on the issue as a state Farm Bureau.

MFB members had hesitated to take action in the past due to lingering skepticism, but this year they acknowledged that no matter a person’s opinion on whether climate change is occurring, there is a strong – and fast-moving – political and social movement to regulate emissions thought to cause climate change.

“The membership moved beyond debate over the conflicting scientific evidence and shifted focus to determining the best interests for agriculture in light of proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood.

Under the newly adopted climate change policy:

* MFB supports a practical, voluntary, market-based carbon credit trading system that recognizes farmland and forests as carbon reducers and compensates farmers for agricultural practices that keep carbon in the soil.

* MFB opposes mandatory restrictions and mandates, such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade policies, as well as attempts to regulate emissions from animals or farm equipment and facilities.

* The organization would also like to see a study conducted to determine the effectiveness of fruit trees in trapping carbon. 

MFB’s policy approach is well-timed and well–intentioned according to guest presenters who led an educational session on climate change a day prior to the policy discussion.

Presently, more than 40 bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress to decrease greenhouse gas

emissions, and recommendations from Michigan’s Climate Action Council are expected this month.

The Climate Action Council has been charged with assessing the level of greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan presently and making recommendations on how to reduce those emissions in the future.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which is an agreement between nine Midwestern states and two Canadian provinces to explore a regional program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In every case, agriculture would be affected by policies intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The impact could come in many forms ranging from higher energy rates to taxes or restrictions on certain farming practices.

“If you’re not at the table, you’ll be on the menu,” warned Jon Allan, director of Environmental and Laboratory Services for Consumers Energy.

Also at the annual meeting, MFB members put their support behind a national Farm Bureau resolution that calls for a non-governmental, voluntary, market-based system for meeting carbon emission standards nationally. The resolution will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration at the AFBF 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas.

MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization and represents more than 47,000 farm families. MFB held its annual meeting Dec. 2-5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.

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Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040

LANSING, Dec. 8, 2008 — It’s better to be seated at the table rather than an item on the menu. That’s the philosophy behind a new Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) policy regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is addressed in Farm Bureau policy at the national level. But up until last week’s MFB 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MFB had not taken a position on the issue as a state Farm Bureau.

MFB members had hesitated to take action in the past due to lingering skepticism, but this year they acknowledged that no matter a person’s opinion on whether climate change is occurring, there is a strong – and fast-moving – political and social movement to regulate emissions thought to cause climate change.

“The membership moved beyond debate over the conflicting scientific evidence and shifted focus to determining the best interests for agriculture in light of proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood.

Under the newly adopted climate change policy:

* MFB supports a practical, voluntary, market-based carbon credit trading system that recognizes farmland and forests as carbon reducers and compensates farmers for agricultural practices that keep carbon in the soil.

* MFB opposes mandatory restrictions and mandates, such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade policies, as well as attempts to regulate emissions from animals or farm equipment and facilities.

* The organization would also like to see a study conducted to determine the effectiveness of fruit trees in trapping carbon. 

MFB’s policy approach is well-timed and well–intentioned according to guest presenters who led an educational session on climate change a day prior to the policy discussion.

Presently, more than 40 bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress to decrease greenhouse gas

emissions, and recommendations from Michigan’s Climate Action Council are expected this month.

The Climate Action Council has been charged with assessing the level of greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan presently and making recommendations on how to reduce those emissions in the future.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which is an agreement between nine Midwestern states and two Canadian provinces to explore a regional program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In every case, agriculture would be affected by policies intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The impact could come in many forms ranging from higher energy rates to taxes or restrictions on certain farming practices.

“If you’re not at the table, you’ll be on the menu,” warned Jon Allan, director of Environmental and Laboratory Services for Consumers Energy.

Also at the annual meeting, MFB members put their support behind a national Farm Bureau resolution that calls for a non-governmental, voluntary, market-based system for meeting carbon emission standards nationally. The resolution will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration at the AFBF 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas.

MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization and represents more than 47,000 farm families. MFB held its annual meeting Dec. 2-5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.

-30-

Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040

LANSING, Dec. 8, 2008 — It’s better to be seated at the table rather than an item on the menu. That’s the philosophy behind a new Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) policy regarding the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is addressed in Farm Bureau policy at the national level. But up until last week’s MFB 89th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MFB had not taken a position on the issue as a state Farm Bureau.

MFB members had hesitated to take action in the past due to lingering skepticism, but this year they acknowledged that no matter a person’s opinion on whether climate change is occurring, there is a strong – and fast-moving – political and social movement to regulate emissions thought to cause climate change.

“The membership moved beyond debate over the conflicting scientific evidence and shifted focus to determining the best interests for agriculture in light of proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said MFB President Wayne H. Wood.

Under the newly adopted climate change policy:

* MFB supports a practical, voluntary, market-based carbon credit trading system that recognizes farmland and forests as carbon reducers and compensates farmers for agricultural practices that keep carbon in the soil.

* MFB opposes mandatory restrictions and mandates, such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade policies, as well as attempts to regulate emissions from animals or farm equipment and facilities.

* The organization would also like to see a study conducted to determine the effectiveness of fruit trees in trapping carbon. 

MFB’s policy approach is well-timed and well–intentioned according to guest presenters who led an educational session on climate change a day prior to the policy discussion.

Presently, more than 40 bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress to decrease greenhouse gas

emissions, and recommendations from Michigan’s Climate Action Council are expected this month.

The Climate Action Council has been charged with assessing the level of greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan presently and making recommendations on how to reduce those emissions in the future.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which is an agreement between nine Midwestern states and two Canadian provinces to explore a regional program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In every case, agriculture would be affected by policies intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The impact could come in many forms ranging from higher energy rates to taxes or restrictions on certain farming practices.

“If you’re not at the table, you’ll be on the menu,” warned Jon Allan, director of Environmental and Laboratory Services for Consumers Energy.

Also at the annual meeting, MFB members put their support behind a national Farm Bureau resolution that calls for a non-governmental, voluntary, market-based system for meeting carbon emission standards nationally. The resolution will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for consideration at the AFBF 90th Convention and Annual Meeting, Jan. 11-14 in San Antonio, Texas.

MFB is the state’s largest general farm organization and represents more than 47,000 farm families. MFB held its annual meeting Dec. 2-5 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place.

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