AFBF: Boxer-Kerry Bill Bad For Ag

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said the Boxer-Kerry climate-change bill recently introduced in the Senate, includes few provisions that are friendly to agriculture and will be strongly opposed by AFBF, USAgNet reports.

“America’s farmers and ranchers did not fare that well in the House-passed climate change bill and they fare even worse in the Senate bill,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

The bill, authored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA), seeks to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade program. The legislation would require greenhouse gas emissions to be cut 20% by 2020 from 2005 levels — greater than the House bill’s target of 17%. Stallman said the 20% target is unrealistic and will lead to higher energy bills for all consumers.

“The Waxman-Markey bill, passed narrowly by the House this summer, did at least include credits to farmers for carbon-storing or carbon management practices. The Senate bill does not guarantee any benefits to agriculture for carbon sequestration,” Stallman said.