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The Clear Skies initiative to reform the Clean Air Act would benefit America's farmers and ranchers by removing pressure on natural gas supplies, thus lowering agricultural production costs, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
In a statement to the Senate Environment and Public Works air quality subcommittee, AFBF said it supported the Clear Skies initiative. "The increasing price of natural gas has been the single most significant factor adding to energy costs for American farmers and ranchers, and the Clear Skies initiative would stabilize the demand for natural gas," said AFBF President Bob Stallman.
AFBF estimates increased energy costs, reflected in the price of farming and ranching inputs during the 2003 and 2004 growing season, added more than $6 billion to the cost of producing food and fiber in the United States.
