Wisconsin Ag Connection - Lt. Governor to Help Promote WFU Carbon Credit Program

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Lt. Governor to Help Promote WFU Carbon Credit Program
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/08/2008

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and Wisconsin Farmers Union President Sue Beitlich will tour southeastern Wisconsin next week to educate farmers and producers on the benefits of the Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program. The program allows ag producers and landowners to earn income by lowering their carbon and methane emissions through no-till crop production, long-term grass seeding, forestry and methane capture projects. Farmers Union is approved by the Chicago Climate Exchange to aggregate and sell carbon credits on the open market on behalf of farmers.

"Wisconsin's farmers stand first in line to experience the direct and immediate impact of global climate change on their business," Lawton said. "The Carbon Credit Program gives them an opportunity to recast that challenge as an opportunity to make their farms profitable. We are intent on ensuring that farmers across the state know the options available to them with this innovative program."

Beitlich says it is an important project that provides farmers and producers with an extra source of income, but also reduces the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, which benefits everyone. The tour will begin at the Hinchley Dairy Farm in Cambridge on July 14. Owned by Duane and Tina Hinchley, the farm consists of 200 dairy cattle and 2,300 acres of land. On July 15, Lawton and Beitlich will tour the farm owned by Harriet and Barney Lavin in Kansasville. The Lavins are currently enrolled in the Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program.

Following the Lavins' farm tour, an informational meeting on the program will be given at the Apple Holler in Sturtevant, beginning at 7:00 p.m., followed by the business meeting of the Farmers Union for the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Jefferson, and Rock.

All meetings are free and open to the public. Free refreshments will be served, although donations are welcomed. For more information, please contact the Wisconsin Farmers Union State Office at 800-272-5531.

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