Keystone Agricultural Producers is calling on the province to exempt farmers’ direct emissions used in food production as it develops a carbon-pricing system.
In September the federal government announced that a carbon pricing system must be in place in all provinces by the end of 2018.
Last week producers attending Keystone Agricultural Producers Fall Advisory Council meeting adopted a policy on carbon pricing.
KAP President Dan Mazier says members have called on the organization to lobby the Manitoba government to exempt direct emissions, such as fuel and fertilizer use necessary for food production, when developing its carbon-pricing system.
It can be a very complex subject so, what we’re trying to do is work with the reality that our national government has said there’s going to be a price on carbon and our provincial government is trying to figure out a carbon pricing system that does not put us in an uncompetitive advantage.
I think the answer is still not there and we’re in discussion mode right now. This policy that was passed is simply saying how about this, the direct cost? We’ve just got sort of an idea out there right now.
It can be vetted, it can be changed again in January but we’re really looking for input from the farming community on where to take this discussion so, when we do meet with government, we have a very informed opinion of what we’re telling the government of what would be best for agriculture.
I can’t get over the opportunity we’ve been given from our provincial government. For myself it’s a very exciting time. We’ve got the door open and they want to talk about it. I figure, as long as that door is open, we’ll jam it open as long as we can.
~ Dan Mazier, Keystone Agricultural Producers
Mazier says farmers want to be part of the solution and move to new production methods and technologies that will reduce or eliminate their carbon footprint but they can’t do it alone.
