Farmscape for October 27, 2016

Keystone Agricultural Producers expects to discuss carbon pricing at its November Advisory Council Meeting as it works to develop a position on Ottawa's plans to introduce a Pan Canada Benchmark for Carbon Pricing.
Last month the federal government announced it will move forward on its election campaign commitment to introduce a Pan Canada Benchmark for Carbon Pricing.
Keystone Agricultural Producers is gathering input from its members as it develops a position.
Sean Goertzen, KAP’s Climate Project Coordinator, says a carbon pricing system needs to take into account the contribution agriculture already makes to greenhouse gas reduction and the impact higher prices could have on farm operations.

Clip-Sean Goertzen-Keystone Agricultural Producers:
A lot of farmers have a diverse range of opinions on this.
I think the one thing they all have in common is wanting a carbon price that works for their businesses.
That means making sure there are no sudden price shocks to fuel, to fertilizer or any other agricultural costs.
There's a lot of folks who are concerned about seeing costs rise and there's also interest in what opportunities there are to reduce emissions and be part of the solution in a way that actually results in savings over time.
No farmer really wants to see cost increases but if they do come they need to be manageable and there needs to be ways to reduce those costs and actually result in net savings over time.
So, are there ways for farmers to reduce emissions in ways that provide net savings to their businesses.

Goertzen says KAP is at the stage of talking to members and listening to their comments and, while KAP doesn't yet have an official position on carbon pricing, the issue is expected to be discussed at the organization's Fall Advisory Council meeting November 3 in Portage la Prairie.
He says after that meeting the organization will potentially be prepared to put forward a position to the federal and provincial governments on carbon pricing.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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