Forests, farms and climate change
(written in response to an Opinion in The Oregonian, reprinted below.)

by George H. Taylor, Oregon State Climatologist
Oregon Climate Service; 316 Strand Ag Hall
Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97331-2209

North Cheatham's letter on July 8 ("Farmers, foresters can help fight global warming") states that global warming "is happening faster than natural factors can explain" and therefore Senator Smith should endorse the so-called Climate Stewardship Act. Cheatham likes the Act because it places limits "on the amount of carbon dioxide that big industrial emitters can release, while not burdening our farms with any new regulation." In actuality, everyone will pay for the "privilege" of trying to control climate, because a carbon tax is the most likely method for reducing CO2 emissions.

And the temperature history of Oregon and the US belies the "happening faster than natural factors" statement. Many news reports suggest that we're seeing unprecedented temperatures in recent years. But in the US, the warmest year of the last century was 1934, and the warmest decade was the 1930s. In Oregon, the warmest year of the last century was 1934, and the warmest decade was the 1930s. In Hood River, where North Cheatham lives, the five warmest years of the last century have been 1934, 1992, 1958, 1906, and 1904. The three warmest winters were 1933-34, 1991-92, and 1957-58. The three warmest summers were 1906, 1958, and 1967. So much for "unprecedented" recent temperatures

An American scientist working for the United Nations climate organization estimated that the Kyoto Accord, if enacted and adhered to, would reduce global temperatures by only about a tenth of a degree, too small to be even measurable. Since the Climate Stewardship Act is much smaller in scope than Kyoto, its effects would be even smaller. A big outlay of new taxes for what would probably not even be noticeable -- that doesn't sound like anything worth supporting.

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IN MY OPINION - The Oregonian, Thursday, July 08, 2004

by North Cheatham

Farmers, foresters can help fight global warming

If you've ever seen a Farmer's Almanac, you know that those who grow food crops pay close attention to climate patterns, temperature variations and expected rainfall. As a grower of apples, pears and peaches in Hood River, I live with the risk of weather-related variables. Indeed, farmers statewide are at the mercy of weather and predictability of our climate, and collectively we're a nearly $2 billion Oregon industry.

There's just one thing that the Almanac and most farmers never expected: global warming.

While research is continuing, most of the world's climate scientists agree that global warming is real, and it is happening faster than natural factors can explain.

The problem is that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere like a thick blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm. Some carbon dioxide is natural and is essential for photosynthesis. But the drastic increase in emissions is adding far too much to the atmosphere.

Here's the good news: American farmers and foresters can be major producers of clean, domestic, renewable sources of energy that make money, reduce greenhouse gases and wean our country from foreign oil.

Two renewable energy-production options are bioenergy -- such as ethanol and biodiesel -- and wind power. Wind energy is one of America's fastest-growing industries and is very compatible with agriculture. And the same agricultural and forestry byproducts useful in producing bioenergy can be used as raw materials in the production of plastics, solvents, adhesives and countless other products.

Farmers also would benefit from reduced global warming in other, more direct ways. Reduced glacial melting would result in less siltation of irrigation systems, cooler winter temperatures would result in more consistent and reliable fruit crops, and cooler summer temperatures would result in lower pest pressure and pesticide usage. Additionally, farmers, ranchers and woodlot owners could be compensated for adapting and maintaining cultivation practices that prevent carbon from being released as carbon dioxide.

There has been a lot of talk the last several years about how a carbon trading market would pay farmers for these activities, while fixing a crucial pollution challenge. But it is going to take real change to create that market and increase the demand -- and price -- for such things as bioenergy and soil carbon. The bipartisan Climate Stewardship Act can take us there. It would place responsible limits on the amount of carbon dioxide that big industrial emitters can release, while not burdening our farms with any new regulation.

The Climate Stewardship Act came within just seven votes of passing last fall. Another vote is likely soon. Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith voted against the bill last year, while Sen. Ron Wyden is a co-sponsor. Passage of the Climate Stewardship Act would be a positive step forward for agriculture, forestry and the nation, by providing leadership to solve a global problem. Sen. Smith, I call on you to provide that leadership for Oregon.

North Cheatham, of Hood River, is a commercial organic fruit grower who recently erected the first large wind turbine in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. He also is on the board of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

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