Beyond one per cent
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SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 74, No. 41 | $1.75
October 13, 2016
manitobacooperator.ca
KAP takes proactive stance on carbon pricing
Wet North America harvest adds pressure for farmers Cropland is soaking wet as harvest time winds down BY ROD NICKEL AND MICHAEL HIRTZER
The group says a good plan could help farmers be part of the solution and generate new revenue while doing it BY ALLAN DAWSON Co-operator staff
Reuters
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anitoba farmers aren’t alone when it comes to grappling with a rainy harvest. North America’s wettest harvest in about five years is hiking farmers’ costs as they dry crops to avoid spoilage and forcing them to take price discounts that are pinching incomes already under stress.
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See WET CROPLAND on page 8 »
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ricing carbon to encourage fewer greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change will affect all Canadians, including farmers. How depends on the program each province implements. It could raise farmers’ nitrogen fertilizer and fuel costs, but sequestering carbon with zero-till or rotational grazing could earn credits offsetting some of those costs. And while some farm groups are in opposition, the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) says since carbon pricing is political reality, it will focus on influencing the outcome to minimize the potential negative effects on farmers. Agriculture is Manitoba’s largest emitting sector, accounting for about 40 per cent of the province’s greenhouse gas, not including the Koch nitrogen plant in Brandon, which is the province’s single largest emitter. Transportation is the second-largest emitter at about 30 per cent. “A poorly designed carbon pricing system could do little more than increase costs for farmers, or it could leave out farmers entirely and bring you no benefits ever,” KAP general manager James Battershill said during a conference call with close to 40 farmers Oct. 4. “However, we think a well-designed carbon price could actually help farmers to be part of the solution and to generate some new revenue while doing it.” KAP says most Manitoba farmers are price-takers and can’t pass on a ‘carbon tax.’ See KAP CARBON on page 6 »
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KAP general manager James Battershill says a good carbon pricing plan can make farmers part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generate farmers some new revenues at the same time. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON
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2016-09-27 7:52 AM