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Senate Holds Climate Hearing

The U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee held a hearing on March 11th focused on climate policy. Featured among the witnesses was Mark Isbell, an Ag Council board of director member, who served as a witness on behalf of USA Rice. The hearing's title was, “Farmers and Foresters: Opportunities to Lead in Tackling Climate Change,” and it is the first policy hearing of the committee this Congress.

A common refrain from witnesses was that any future climate change policy solutions should be voluntary, market driven, and incentive based, and they should not be created in a manner that does not take resources away from existing conservation and commodity programs or serve as a precondition for accessing existing farm related programs. In addition, witnesses noted the importance of avoiding a one-sized or narrow focused program that excludes commodities, farm structures or regions from participating in such a new program. Many witnesses also stated a need to bolster funding for current conservation programs already in place under the NRCS and FSA that serve important functions for farmers and the environment.

More below:

https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/dem/press/release/senators-stabenow-boozman-announce-witnesses-for-climate-change-hearing

https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/farmers-and-foresters-opportunities-to-lead-in-tackling-climate-change

Isbell Testimony

https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/15505-opinion-everything-and-the-carbon-sink

https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/boozman-highlights-ag-communitys-efforts-to-address-climate-change-and_underscores-how-to-build-from-successes-