ARLINGTON, VA - NMPF submitted testimony on May 21, 2008 to the Senate Agriculture subcommittee on rural revitalization, conservation, forestry and credit regarding a hearing on Creating Jobs with Climate Solutions: How agriculture and forestry can help lower costs in a low-carbon economy to explain the important role of dairy in climate change legislation.

NMPF detailed how the dairy industry can provide reliable, permanent and immediate greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions through methane capture and other best management practices. These reductions will serve as an important cost containment mechanism for the economy as a whole while creating an important market for conservation and production of a new energy commodity (biogas) for livestock operations.

The testimony also discussed recognizing the unique value of substituting manure for commercial fertilizer and how this results in energy savings and a reduction in GHG emissions. In addition, NMPF explained the significant potential for soil carbon sequestration in pastureland which can actually increase the amount of soil carbon stored in soils over lands left idle.

NMPF also stressed the importance of not regulating GHG emissions from livestock operations. It is critical that dairy has market opportunities and incentives to make the significant contributions we can in the form of greenhouse gas offsets.

NMPF will continue to make sure the dairy industry is viewed as part of the solution in cap and trade climate change legislation and the unique benefits are clearly understood by members of Congress. To read the full comments, click here [0].

The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.