Climate-change survey focuses responses from ag and forestryBy

COOKSON BEECHER
Capital Press

June 6, 2009

The results of a climate-change survey focusing on input from ag, forestry and other interests is now available online.The survey is the result of a climate-change questionnaire crafted in March by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and sent to more than 400 ag- and forestry-related organizations.More than 200 organizations responded, with replies coming from a diverse group including commodity, conservation, forestry, research, energy, business and nonprofit interests as well as the public.The compilation of the survey results, which includes answers to 29 questions, runs to more than 2,500 pages.Among the responders were the American Nursery and Landscape Association, the Chicago Climate Exchange, the Association of Consulting Foresters of America, Defenders of Wildlife, the California Association of Wine Grape Growers, the California Farm Bureau, California Citrus Mutual, Cargill Inc., Oregon State University Extension Service, National Grain and Feed Association, National Meat Association, National Organic Coalition, Western United Dairymen, Western Growers and Washington state's Ecology and Natural Resources departments.According to a letter from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-MN, that went along with the questionnaire, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have been participating in agricultural programs that reduce carbon for years.The questionnaire's goal, he said, was to identify ways that these practices could be recognized and incorporated into climate-change legislation. The letter also pointed out that Congress is poised to consider a range of options to reduce greenhouse gasses. Two of the options are to mandate or authorize cap and trade programs or to impose a tax or fee on greenhouse emissions.But Peterson also told those who received the questionnaire that some of the proposed legislation would allow producers to receive emission allowances to generate carbon offsets that could be sold under a cap and trade program, and for that reason producers could benefit from a carbon-reduction program.In answering one the questionnaire's first questions, "Should agriculture and forestry sectors be covered under a carbon-reduction program?" Joel Nelson of Citrus Mutual summed up one of the industry's prevailing thoughts about this:"Citrus Mutual is conflicted as to the need for this type of program," he said. "The scientific community is split as to whether global warming and climate change is occurring, and if so, is our climate reverting back to what it once was less than a century ago? We profess to not know the answer to that question, but we acknowledge that some preparedness is warranted in case. For this reason we believe the committee should take small steps towards this effort because there is so much we don't know and because of unintended consequences."In a press release about the survey, Peterson said that the "tremendous response" to the questionnaire reveals the concerns and contributions that the organizations and individuals participating in the survey can offer in the discussion about climate change."The information we received from this survey will help us educate other members of Congress about the potential contribution and impact of climate change legislation on agriculture and rural communities," the congressman sai