01/06/09 Climate change legislation in 2009

Farm and Ranch January 6, 2008 If the farm bill was the major legislative focus for agriculture in 2008, what will the issue be this year? Gaede: "Climate change. Climate change. Climate change." Mark Gaede, a director of government affairs for the National Association of Wheat Growers. He says he gets asked is this a priority for NAWG. Gaede: " I said it is not NAWG's priority. It seems to be everyone else's priority so it has to be something we follow. And we need to be at the table." Gaede says California Senator Barbara Boxer will introduce a bill this month that will be streamlined compared to last year's Lierberman-Warner legislation. He says Boxer probably wants to get her bill in quickly to establish jurisdiction for her Environment and Public Works Committee. Gaede: "She definitely wants to work with agriculture and wants to make sure that agriculture is recognized as having offset potential for the regulated industries." Gaede says the most ag friendly climate change bill will be introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Gaede: "We have two goals. One is to make sure agriculture is not regulated and number two to make sure there are opportunities for farmers and ranchers to sell carbon credits on a cap and trade system market." When Kansas State University economist Barry Flinchbaugh spoke at the Oregon Idaho Grains Conference last month, he said it doesn't matter what you personally think about global warming or climate change. Flinchbaugh: "I am suggesting that we accept the facts politically and get in there and help legislate to our favor." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.