Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is welcoming the recent report from the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry about the impacts of climate change and carbon pricing on agriculture.

KAP says the report recognizes the work that farmers are already doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report points out that without adaptation action, agriculture would be one of the sectors most damaged by climate change.

It calls for measures to help farmers adapt from increased investment in research to enhanced education services.

When addressing the carbon tax, the report calls for the government to address farmers’ competitiveness on the global market, as well as food affordability for Canadians, by exempting fuels used to heat farm buildings and propane/natural gas used in farming activities.

“The exemption of these fuels is essential because we are competing in a world marketplace where we do not have the opportunity to set our own prices – and where our competitors will not have these costs,” said KAP President Bill Campbell. “This report mirrors what KAP has been saying, and what we outlined in our Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change report issued earlier this year."