schahczenski’s Recent Comments

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  Nice analogy,

  I think its simpler, Big Ag is conservative, conservatives don't hardly want to admit climate change is a real issue much less support any legislation to do anything about it.  Now Big Ag Business (input industries) want to have this bill because they can game the offset program to their advantage. This may also be part of the schizophrenic behavior, since Big Ag can't afford to necessairly offend its big benefactors.

   

  On Farm lobby: Shoot the climate bill, but keep the Peterson goodies posted 4 months, 4 weeks ago 3 Responses

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  Thanks Tom,

  The issue is that production agriculture can AT BEST  offset 4-5% of annual U.S. GHG emissions... And that can only be done if we set high standards on how such offsets are calculated, their ultimate price and how well the program is administered, something better left to the EPA that doesn't have a vested intereste in Big AG Business (NOT farmers and ranchers). If Peterson thinks that the EPA is in "bed" with corporations that want to end corn ethanol, then he is clearly in bed with the likes of Monsanto,etc. who want to see greater sales of round-up to support no-till under soil carbon sequestration standards that can't be measured accurate enough to provide legitimate offsets. There are also reports that Waxman offered Peterson a new program that would support farmers and ranchers who adopted practices that would move them toward more climate friendly farming and ranching. Its a deal Peterson should have taken because it would have taken famers and ranchers  out of the crazy gaming going on with offsets, but still benefit sustainable farmers and ranchers.

   

  On Big Ag aims its pitchfork at historic climate legislation posted 5 months ago 7 Responses

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  Exactly Stephanie!

  We also have many good federal conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which be a much better and cost effective way to assist agriculture GHG emission mitigation, without this greenwashing ploy.

  On Waxman-Markey, meet House Ag Committee posted 5 months, 1 week ago 5 Responses