Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Director Larry Sitzman.
In general, the national and state organizations oppose cap and trade.
"The main reason being that if great amounts of land are idled for trees (and other carbon sequestration uses), it would limit the availability of cropland," Sitzman said, which could reduce feedstocks and raise feed costs for livestock producers.
He said pork producers aren't concerned about additional regulatory measures because the livestock industry in general and swine in particular represent such a minute carbon contribution.
Nebraska Soybean Association Director and American Soybean Association Treasurer Steve Wellman of Syracuse.
The state association hasn't taken a stand on cap and trade yet, but it may be discussed at the group's annual meeting in December.
The national organization opposed the House bill and probably will have similar concerns about the Senate version. "It just appears that it's gonna be costly for agriculture and a risk for raising food prices for consumers," Wellman said.
Also, it would put U.S. soybean growers at a competitive disadvantage in world markets, he said, because farmers in other countries without emissions controls can grow soybeans at a lower cost.
Nebraska Cattlemen Vice President of Environmental Affairs Duane Gangwish.
There is no specific cap and trade policy, but the organization is opposed to some general principles.
"We're told we'll get to sell all kinds of offsets," Gangwish said, but opportunities are limited for ranchers in Nebraska's 23 million-acre Sandhills and for progressive farmers in other parts of the state.
He explained that most Sandhills ranchers already are doing optimum management practices for the fragile land and have no new things to do to qualify for carbon offset payments. Similarly, crop producers who adopted no-till farming years ago may have nothing more to do to earn credits.
"We have a suspicion there will be a very small number of producers who can participate in that (carbon trade) market," Gangwish said.
Cattle producers also are concerned that cap and trade will make energy more expensive and, therefore, ag production more expensive. "And we have nowhere to pass that (extra cost) along," he said.
Nebraska Corn Growers Association Executive Director Scott Merritt.
Cap and trade policy proposals being prepared for review by state convention delegates next month range from staunch opposition to any plan to more moderate statements that agriculture must be exempt or legislators need to re-evaluate the possible impacts to agriculture.
Merritt said the big concern is that a policy will increase energy costs, so nothing coming out of Washington so far suggests that ag producers could see a net gain.
"This is really an energy tax," he said. "Do you believe you can get enough benefit to offset the steel in your tractor, the diesel fuel in your tractor or the other energy you use on your farm?
"There is nothing we see that has agriculture at zero sum or a positive balance under this."
