How The Farm Bureau, Other Big Ag Organizations Tiptoe Around Those Dirty Words "Global Warming"

[hatrack]

Major farm groups have hit on a new way to tiptoe around climate change affected by human activity: Call it "climatic events." That's the catchphrase in a new initiative by the American Farm Bureau Federation and 20 other farm groups meant to address the ongoing debate about agriculture's contribution to — and role in mitigating — a warming climate.

The shifting vocabulary illustrates the difficulty some farm organizations and lobbying outfits continue to have acknowledging the scientific consensus that farming plays a part in climate change.

"Climatic events" might mean "weather." It might mean "climate change." Representatives of the groups at a recent news conference acknowledged they're taking a nuanced approach as they defend agriculture from potential legislation that would force reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

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To farm groups that embrace the concept — and terminology — of climate change, the big organizations' sustainability initiative appears to be mainly about political expedience. A representative of one farm organization, requesting anonymity to speak openly about other groups, said the effort may fizzle once election season ends, having fulfilled its role as a talking point for Republican congressional candidates skeptical of climate change policy but wanting to show voters they're engaged on the issue.

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https://www.eenews.net/stories/1062507769

[SharonClark]

1. The Farm Bureau's only interest is selling insurance.