This short personal essay from “farmer Steve” in North Dakota appeared as a comment on WUWT here. I thought it was a succinct and clear message based on personal experience and values, and thus worth sharing. I’ve made some formatting changes to make it easier to read, otherwise it is exactly as he posted his comment. For background on the North Dakota carbon credit program extended to farmers and ranchers, see this, this, and the program home page. Anyone who wishes to repost this essay has my permission to do so. – Anthony
Carbon Credits
I have changed my mind about participating in the carbon credit program. And have resolved to give the money I received to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Here is why.
Recently I sat in the fire hall with a few dozen farmers. We had been invited to hear how we can get paid for carbon credits.
The speaker explained how their satellites can measure the carbon in our land individually and how much money we could get. Then asked for questions.
I asked “what is the source of this money”?
The presenter said it comes from big companies that pollute.
I asked “where do they get this money”? He had no answer.
So I answered for him, asking, “won’t it come from everyone who pays their power bill”? He then agreed and said “that could be”.
I then said isn’t this about the theory of man made global warming? he said “we are not going to talk about that”. Here they are on the prairie soliciting land for carbon credits tempting us with free money.
I believe that agreeing to take their money means you agree with taxing cattle gas also, because methane is a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon. I believe taking this money without considering its source makes us no better than the bankers who lent money to people, knowing they could not pay it back. Collecting their fees then selling the bad loans in bundles to someone else. They did not care where the money came from either.
Let’s be clear.
Carbon is not a new commodity! No new wealth is being created here! Is this the way we want to make a living? Let me ask you, what if their satellites determine that your land has lost carbon? You will get a bill, not a check, right? If you make a tillage pass you will get a bill for emitting carbon, is this not correct?
It is also a fact that this income will, in short order, get built into your land cost. You will keep very little and be left with the burden of another bureaucratic program.
Let’s be honest, we feel compelled to take this money because of the need to be competitive, however we also need to hold true to our values and lead by example that means placing our principals ahead of money.
No good citizen is opposed to using the earth’s resources wisely, however, wisdom means a person who has both intelligence and humility. In my view many of the proponents of man made global warming have the first and lack the second. We are able to exercise our freedom in this country because we have abundant, reliable and affordable power. It is ironic that we sat in front of the flag in that fire hall and considered trading our liberty for money.
I’ll leave you with a quote from Roy Disney:
“Decision making becomes easier when your values are clear to you”
_Jim (05:28:41) :
Thank you Jim. It’s a common… mistake.
Aron: Thanks, a good link!. Democracies as the one in Venezuela, where Chavez has been elected 6 times….
This is exactly what I was afraid of. Remember those CO2 satellites? Apparently those are being used to manage the tax, science is a detail.
OT… “75-megawatt solar plant to power “first solar city” in Florida”…
Ain’t gonna be free energy…
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/11/75-megawatt-solar-plant-to-power-first-solar-city-in-florida/
I am just waiting until the Governement figures out a way to tax the tax. Step right up and pay a tax on the tax that you just paid.
Rollerball
FYI –
“Error 404 – Not Found” on the above link ralph.
All the others returned active and seemed on topic (not re-directed, mis-linked).
.
>> OT… “75-megawatt solar plant to power “first solar city” in Florida”…
You mean the first city powered only when the Sun shines, and totally useless at any other time or season.
So, does “no-till” mean no food is planted? If the answer is yes, then won’t food prices rise because there is less of it?
Ellie, there seems to be a reason N2O stories never make it into the 2nd day’s news cycle; N2O is measured in the atmosphere as 314 parts per Billion.
With 250 Years of Industrialization, expanding agriculture, adding hundreds of millions of trucks, tractors, and cars, etc. we’ve managed to add a Whopping 44 ppb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas
If we were to, somehow, manage to add another 44ppb, which seems highly unlikely, it would be the equivalent to approx. 5 ppm of CO2. oombawa!
I guess everyone who doesn’t pay taxes is getting a refund of about eight bucks a week which equals about four hundred bucks a year. Good thing too, because they’re gonna need it to pay for doubled utility bills and doubled gasoline prices.
Oh wait… it won’t be enough will it? Maybe we can give them all those nice houses that they couldn’t pay for. See how easy economics is?
Mike B. is right! Economics is E-Z: click
Gary Gulrud said: …yet how rare are people of farmer Steve’s moral calibre.
And that right there, may be the whole crux of the matter….moral caliber.
Kum,
thanks for pointing that out. Looks like I fall for hyped up stuff too. I am very peripherally involved in a project where people are worrying about this. I haven’t paid it much attention and I’ve just accepted their say so that it was important. I think I am going to enjoy asking some very pointed questions next time we all get together.
Ralph Ellis – thanks, enjoyed that! I wonder if there is any chance of this whole scheme getting cancelled with a major CC buyback at issue value? ;0
Agree your thoughts re:regulation – keep it simple. Top level limits with a “meet or cease trade” condition.
Ralph Ellis,
good article – first time i’ve really got it on CCs.
” Steven Hill (07:27:29) :
I am just waiting until the Governement figures out a way to tax the tax. Step right up and pay a tax on the tax that you just paid.”
Our government already does that with
1) tax on alcohol.
2) tax on fuel
3) tax on purchase of cars.
These taxes are added to the price, THEN they tax the total with Value added tax!
DaveE.
Actually, the carbon tax will be added to our bills nett of V.A.T., so we will be taxed on tax AGAIN!
DaveE.
Here is another look at the tremendous rise at the business end of the hockey stick… This is really scary… NOT
http://junkscience.com/GMT/NCDC_absolute.gif
I am an Indian and lives in rural surrondings of Punjab India.
Really nice to read the Farmer’s view.
All over the world, the farmers have a same attitude and 99$ are having very morale & ethical values. As they say in Punjab India –
A Farmer is simple but not stupid.
I am working as Branch Manager in a commerical bank and trying my level best to elevate the educational and financial status of the farmers of my command area.
“Smokey (12:43)
My Dad had a 400 acre dairy farm, he would have been the expert, not me. But, the article you cite states corn likes cool weather. That runs contrary to my experience (and I gather yours). For corn we always wanted hot weather and warm nights. This seems like another example of someone making up facts to suit their agenda. In cool years my brothers have been concerned with getting corn to maturity before the frost. Any other opinions out there?”
Kind of depends on where you are located. “Here” we like it to get below 80 at night. High temps(say 100) during the day, and mid 80’s at night really stresses the corn. If you are further north, say, Wisconsin or NY, then your conditions are quite a bit different.
Corn has a long growing season and thrives in the heat and humidity.
This year the midwest is having a cold spring which may result in late planting. Then the farmers will need to switch to soybeans.
I have been buying organic milk for a while, I think it tastes better and doesn’t give me the sinus problems that regular milk does. I pay more for that product, but it is my choice. If farmers like Steve would label their products as “Carbon Credit Free”, or “No carbon credits were used in the production of this wheat.” They would get my support. I mean that as voluntary labeling, but I think the gov’ment would force those who do not comply to be labeled as a discouragement. “Climate Generals Warning: This company does not participate in the Cap and Trade economy. Use at your own risk.”
Any of you farmers who have actually done this – or studied its effectiveness, would you comment on what the crop yields were? (Better? Worse? No Difference?)
The Carbon Credit Program of the North Dakota Farmer’s Union says:
How accepted is “No Till” Cropping and Prescribed Grazing?
There’s a little more (but not much) in the Anthony’s “Program” link (above). Have they actually researched the effectiveness of this type of farming?
Nasif Nahle (21:27:56) : John F. Hultquist (17:40:49) : and anyone else having trouble with, or explaining, the HTML here.
Choose a line you wish to copy or duplicate, such as a link. Go to “View” on the top tool bar, then “View Source” (Firefox) or just “Source” (I.E.), then F4 to find that line in the source code. All will be revealed…