Major TV Network Program -The Great Carbon Credit Swindle

G'day,

**********************************************
Exciting News - We have a major network looking
at running a feature on QLD & NSW Farmers
being Swindled out of Carbon Credits
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Below is a copy of an email Agmates has received from a major network looking at picking up our story.


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----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Name Removed by Agmates
To: steve@agmates.com
Sent: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007 3:49:47 PM
Subject: Program Suggestion

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your email dated 26th March 2007.

Your program suggestion regarding QLD and NSW farmers has been passed on
to one of our producers for consideration. We may be in touch with you
again if we feel we can take this matter further.

Thanks again for taking the time to write to us.

Sincerely,



Program Assistant
Name removed by agmates

**********************************************
Below is a copy of Agmates email to the
Network.
**********************************************

From: Steve Truman
To: name removed by agmates
Sent: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007 5:22:39 PM

Subject: Re: The Great Carbon Credit Swindle


G'day (name removed)

Thanks for your email,

The Blog article was a little disjointed, so I've done a chronological summary to make it a little easier for you.


* In 1997 at the Kyoto Conference - Environment minister Ian Campbell holding out to the end of the conference only agreed to sign Australia up only if clause 3.7 was included (this clause became known internationally as "The Australian Clause).

* What this clause did was allow Australia to meets it's agreed reduction targets to the year 2008 by doing nothing else except stopping land clearing in Qld & NSW.

* The Coalition Government have never flagged this as being the case, but instead did a deal with the labour state Governments of Qld & NSW. In exchange for them passing legislation to stop farmers clearing (and improving) their Land the Federal Government would give them more funding.

Done deal and a win win for both Federal coalition and State Labour. State Labour didn't mind copping the flack, because most farmers are conservative voters, Federal Coalition avoided the fallout, but looked great to the Greens and the international community.

* Sophisticated Financial modelling shows that the banning of land clearing is costing Qld & NSW farmers $600 million dollars a year through lost production.

*There has been absolutely nothing else done by any government to halt our emissions, yet "we are leading the world" in cutting emissions to date. The banning of land clearing has equated to a cut of C02 emissions of 78million tonnes. Meanwhile for the same period the Stationary Energy Industry (Power) alone has increased emissions by 84 million tonnes.

* Having stopped land clearing Australia is one of the few countries in the world to "be on track' to meet their Kyoto commitment of only having an increase of 8% on increased CO2 levels over the 1990 baseline. To put this in perspective Canada who have not been able to do the same thing have had an increase of 30% in emissions and have no hope of meeting their target.

* Does Australia expect Qld & NSW farmers alone to shoulder this huge financial burden whilst every other industry has grown with gay abandon over the last 10 years. Farmers have done this, all the while believing that it was the conservation groups who were doing them in. It's a shock to find out it's their own mates in the national party who have shafted them.

* What the Federal government has actually done by stopping farmers land clearing is STOLEN 78 million tonnes of CO2 credits off farmers.

At the bottom end of the price scale for a tonne of carbon ($25 per tonne) this equates to $1.95 Billion dollars. At the top end of the estimated range ($70 per tonne) it is $5.46 Billion dollars.

This price range is flagged in the federal Governments own report commissioned into a National Emissions trading Scheme. this report was done for the Prime Ministers task group.

* There is no other industry in Australia that would cop being being sacrificed by the Federal government to this extent for "the sake of the national good".


* Now, with the coming of a National Emissions Trading Scheme, Australian farmers want to be able to participate in the "wealth transfer' that is Carbon Credits.

*In the carbon trading model, you are in one of 3 positions, A Net emitter, Carbon Neutral or a Net sequester. If you are a net emitter (like a power company) the only way to cut your emissions by 60% over the next 43 years (the Kyoto target) is by buying Carbon Credits off a Net sequester (someone who sequesters more Carbon than they emit).

There are only 2 sources of Carbon Sequestration, Trees and Soil. Farmers are in the Box seat to be net sequesters and hence be one of biggest the recipients of the hugest wealth transfer this civilisation has ever seen.

Estimations are that global Carbon Trading over the next 43 years will be a $15 Trillion dollar industry. That's $15 trillion dollars going from Industries that pollute to those that sequester.

This is a win win for all, because farmers would actually have to become Carbon farmers to take part in all of this. The time is near when farmers could actually make more money from caring for the biodiversity of their soil and planting trees (rather than knocking them down.) than they could out of farming and grazing.

But here's the second scandal in all of this - The Coalition Government wants nothing to do with it. They have told the NFF (the peak Australian farming Lobby Group) that measuring and selling Soil Carbon credits is not possible. Indeed the Federal agriculture minister Peter McGauran has told farmers that there is "nothing in this for farmers".

Meanwhile Australian Energy companies AGL (Australians Largest) and Origin energy are buying 'offset credits" off farmers in Canada, USA, Mexico and Brazil. these are Soil carbon credit traded on the Chicago Climate Exchange.

So now we have the ridiculous scenario where Australian Companies are buying soil carbon credits off foreign farmers so they can continue to pollute here in Australia. Meanwhile or farmers miss out on this wealth transfer.

What the Government has done is offer Australian farmers piddling "Stewardship Payments" (another government handout) in lieu of being able to trade soil carbon credits.

These credits will accrue and will (are) being measured by the Government as we speak. They no doubt plan to STEAL those as well (just like the Credits from Land Clearing Bans) and give them to one of their big industry mates to offset their unabated growth.

This is an absolute scandal and Agmates ask each and every Australian who supports 'a fair go' to be outraged at the way the Farmers of Qld and NSW have been swindled by the Federal Government.

Hope this makes a complex issue a little clearer and perhaps you could support a 'fair go' for Australian Farmers, rather than as a tax payer sponsoring another 'hand out'

Cheers - your Agmate Steve

AGMATES, 100% PRO - AUSTRALIAN FARMERS

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End of email
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P.S. Please help Agmates - Subscribe to get your updates by email from the automated service Feedblitz. There will come a time soon when I will not be able to email this directly to you. So if you don't want to miss out on Australia's most hard hitting PRO FARMER NEWS - than subscribe NOW.

Your Agmate - Steve

AGL & ORIGIN ENERGY - Autralian Companies pay Foriegn Farmers for Carbon Credits, Aussies Farmers Miss Out.

G'day

I know that I have already posted an article today............BUT
It's Saturady Night and I've had a couple of drinks and won't be as diplomatic as usual. So here goes...........

WARNING - This is HOT, CONTROVERSIAL and 100% PRO-AUSTRALIAN FARMERS

I know in advance this posting will upset a few people - But hey if I'm wrong your welcome to refute the facts I'm quoting.


*********************************************
Honbourable Minister for Agriculture
Peter McGauran
Quote " there is nothing in it for farmers"
********************************************


Of course he is refering to farmers getting nothing out of a Carbon Trading Scheme. I'm going to deal with that LIE here.


Because, this is the LIE that has crippled YOUR STATE & NATIONAL Agri-polilical Associations on this issue. You see this is the LIE that was spun by the minister to the NFF.


The NFF then without verifying the facts, (totally trusting that the Federal Coalition Government would always look after FARMERS) , then spun the same story to the State and Commodity Bodies. The State and Commodity Associations would merely have assumed that the NFF had "checked it out" and believed the LIE.


Hence the fact they have done NOTHING to put the collective VIEW of AUSTRALIAN farmers forward in a forceful way.


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PROOF THAT THIS IS A LIE
********************************************

My god Peter McGauran and the NFF must have cringed when they saw these stories in the press this week.


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AGL & OGIN ENERGY SIGN UP TO BUY
SOIL CARBON CREDITS FROM FARMERS
IN CANADA, THE USA, MEXICO & BRAZIL
*********************************************

No the headlines did not say exactly that, but thats exactly whats happening.

Now remember according to the Federal Government and the good folk "as the mute whispering voice of Australian Farmers", it is too an imprecise science to be able to measure soil carbon sequestration. According to them it's just not possible and to expensive to monitor. That's why there is nothing in it for Australian farmers.


Well what the story is that AGL the nations largest gas and electricity company and it's rival Origin Energy have signed voluntary but legally binding agreements to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.


Now they are going to do this by joining THE CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE. They will buy their Carbon Credits there to offset their polluting in Australia.


Now where does the CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE get it's credits from. Well they do a huge trade in..........guess what?..............soil carbon credits sequested from farmer in CANADA, USA, MEXICO and BRAZIL. They have been trading in these since April 2005 (2 years).


So while you are told a LIE (there is nothing in it for Australian Farmers) Autralian Companies are buying soil carbon credits off foriegn farmers.



Folks, emissions trading is going to see the greatest "Wealth Transfer" ever known to a civilization. And thanks to the Federal Government and the NFF and Associates, AUSTRALIAN FARMERS will get nothing. But what sort of money are we talking about here?



*********************************************
ITS A $15 TRILLION DOLLAR BONANZA
$15,000,000,000,000
*********************************************


* Koyoto target is to cut Greenhouse gas emmissions by 60% globaly by the year 2050 (43 years)


* On the 1990 base level (the emission level in 1990) a 60% cut represents 600 million tonnes.


* At Recent soil carbon trade prices in Australia of $25 per tonne that is $15 Trillion dollars over the next 43 years. (Thats $348 Billion dollars a year).


* Global Carbon Trading for 2006 was just $37 Billion. But hang on, 80% of that #37 Billion was just in Europe. This years trade is expected to top $40 Billion globally.


Well Australian Farmers will never see the wealth transfer thats happening right now as AGL & ORIGIN pay Canadian, American, Mexican and Brazilian farmers for the right to pollute here in Australia. Meanwhile Australian farmers get offered token Stewaedship Payments (What a joke, an insult).


* Last week Australian Company - Global Renewables announce a $5 Billion Dollar agreement with Britians Lancashire & Blackpool councils. The councils are investing the money for Global Renewable to cut their Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 4 million tonnes.


* US Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is at the forefront of having The Global Pollution Reduction Act (s.309) voted into US law. The bill gives the US EPA the directive to set milestones to reduce US Greenhouse Gas emissions by 80% of the 1990 level by 2050. Remember it was $15 Trillion dollars by cutting the levels by just 60%.

Now Section 714 of that Act contains:
"Standards to account for biological sequestration of Carbon, including Forests and Soil"


As I said readers, Carbon Trading globally is the greatest transfer of wealth this civilization has seen, and already AUSTRALIAN FARMERS are missing out while the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT offers handouts like the Offensive "Stewardship Payments".


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WHY FARMERS CAN'T TRUST THE NATIONAL PARTY
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There is a belief amoungst the Agri-political organizations that you can trust the National Party to look after their interests. Well here is the PROOF that this is not correct.


Under the Coalition Government Tree Clearing in NSW & QLD has been banned. We have always been lead to believe that Tree Clearing was a State issues and FARMERS were at the mercey of GREEN State Labour Governments (Messers Carr and Beattie). This is not the case.


* It's a fact that Senator Robert Hill who was the Minister for the Environment in 1997 at the Koyota Climate Change Conference inserted a clause (3.7 known internationally as the AUSTRALIAN CLAUSE) and signed the agreement.


* That Senator Hill (who is more GREEN than some in the Greens party) is a great negotiator, there is no doubt. Using time pressure ( a great negotiation tool) he waited right until the end of the conference when they were wanting to finish up said he would only sign the agreement if that clause was inserted.


* What that clause allowed the Australian Federal Government to do was "Count the Greenhouse Gas that had been emitted by land clearing in 1990 as part of their base line calculation."



* What Senator Hill achieved was a master stroke. He'd stop land clearing (which he hated) and use the Carbon Credits Created by no land clearing (78 million tonnes over the period) to meet the reductions Australia told the world it would achieve by 2008.


* Then in the move that sold NSW & QLD farmers down the drain, they persuaded the State Governments to stop Land Clearing in their states. All the while the National Party watched on and said nothing.


* The result has been to deflect the rath of affected farmers to the State Labour Governments (who didn't really mind because they know most farmers are conservative voters and they had not much to lose. But they would keep the GREEN left side of their party happy). Meanwhile the Federal Coalition Government are off the hook and taking the applause globally as a Government and nation meeting its global responibilities.


* My proof is what former NSW Premier Bob Carr and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in the Sydney Media today.


* Malcolm Turnbull say's Australia "has led the world on climate change". Which is true we have. He is very proud of the fact that Europe is following his lead to outlaw the incandescent light bulb. He is very proud of the fact that Australia is one of the few countries on track to meet its Kyoto targets.


* Here'sTHE CRUNCH - The Cats out of the bag. -

Bob Carr is at pains to remind Mr Turnbull that its not because Australia has cut its industry emissions. (AGMATES NOTE: the Electricity industry has increased it's emissions by 84 million tonnes over the same period that agriculure has accured 78 millions tonnes credit by the land clearing ban).


Bob siad the Australian Government meeting its targets is only possible because Australia was given a legup at Kyoto by being allowed to offset emissions by stopping large-scale land clearing in Queensland and NSW.


So thats how the NATIONAL PARTY let QLD and NSW farmers be put to the sword to meet its international commitments.


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HOW MUCH BURDEN DO QLD & NSW FARMERS
HAVE TO BEAR FOR THE NATIONAL GOOD?
**********************************************


* Financial models have estimated that the lost business opportunites from the stopping of farmers clearing to improve their properties and production is $600 MILLION DOLLARS per year.


* But hang on what about the wealth that has been accumulated in the growth of the national Electricity Industry in that period. The whole economy of the country has been able to grow unabated over the last 10 years, because farmers have been sacrificed "for the national good".


* Now the very same Government is telling farmers "there is nothing in this for you" TRUST US.


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Lets Put a Face to these numbers:
DAN & LEANNE LUKE of Bygana Clermont QLD are
a great example of FARMERS crucified
**********************************************


Dan contacted me earlier in the week - here's his situation

* They have over 20,000 acres of standing Brigalow country that was to be developed as capital became available on a continual program of developing a property in ones lifetime.


* Once cleared and sown to Buffell grass 20,000+ acres is a very valuable asset. Now they are not allowed by State Laws to touch the Brigalow and the land is worthless. Not only is it unsaleable, but the lost productivity opportunity of that country lost through all the fat bullocks they will never sell off the improved pasture.


* Now the Lukes are pretty positive people and adaptable like most farmers. They think maybe it's not so bad, it's full of trees and trees sequest carbon, shouldn't be to hard, I can sell the Carbon sequestered by my Brigalow trees and maybe just maybe make a good income each year from that. Fair enough!


* So the lukes went off and spoke to some Agforce people about it. Guess what he was told - No way, theres nothing in carbon trading for farmers. He went to his State Nationals MP Shane Knuth. No help there.


* So here is a great young Australian farming family that have had their livehood and family future ripped away from them by a Ruthless Federal Government. That same government then tells him "there is nothing in emissions trading for you".


* Then after trying to keep them out of the Global Bonanza that is carbon trading the same Federal Government offers them a hand out in the form of a piddling stewardship payment.


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THIS IS AN ABSOLUTLEY DISCRACEFUL WAY TO TREAT
QLD & NSW FARMERS.
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The obscene thing about all of this is that its the one Political Party (The Nationals) that farmers trusted.

"It's like the shock of discovering that a trusted family friend has been syphoning money out of your account to spend on their luxurious lifestyle. All the while watching you struggle financially through hard times and pretending to care.


*********************************************
But Hang On Dan & Leanne
There is a group out there fighting for
Australian Farmers on this issue.
*********************************************

Dan asked me a couple of questions:

1. Is there anybody out there who can help us?
2. Is it too late?

I could not answer either question at the time, but I told him I see what I could find out.


Well Dan there is someone who is fighting hard for THE RIGHT of AUSTRALIAN FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO trade soil carbon credits (and remnant vegatation).


BUT DAN & LEANNE - they need farmers like yourselves to get involved. They have tried enlisting the support of the NFF and the NSW Farmers Association, but have not met much success.


They are they Australian Carbon Coalition and I spoke with Michael Kiely the head of the group. Here's his email back to Agmates.


*********************************************
Email from michael Kiely
Carbon Coalition
*********************************************

From: MIchael Kiely

Sent: 20/03/2007 6:29 PM
To: Agmates

Cc: Louisa Kiely; daniel@carboncoalition.com.au
Subject: Re: Support the Carbon Coalition?.

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the battlefield. There's plenty of action for everyone.


We are on the same path, tho we are a single issue organisation. We choose the path of diplomacy (mainly), tho at times warfare (your tactics) would be more appropriate.


We met with NFF"S David Crombie and Dr Findlay last year in AUgust, and was disappointed to read the NFF's misguided acceptance of the concept of 'stewardship payments' from Howard.

We see it as the first play in a pea and thimble swap Howard will pull to deny AUstralian farmers their right to carbon credits for soil carbon. Motive: keep them under government control. (See http://carboncreditsgovernmentwatch.blogspot.com/)


We made 2 submissions to the NETS enquiry. The NFF and NSW Farmers made 0.


The Carbon Coalition was formed as a membership-based organisation in february 06.


Our mission: to see the day soil carbon credits were traded in Australia. We believe this single act will have triple benefits - benefits for climate change, ecology and family farm economics.

Steve,

We desperatly need your readers help.
Tell them to go to our site www.carboncoalition.com.au they can register there and join us in the fight.

Michael

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Dan & Leanne, the answer to question 2 is no its not too late, but hell its the 11th hour.


******************************************
IT IS SCANDALOUS THAT AUSTRALIAN FARMERS
HAVE BORN THE BRUNT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS SHADY DEAL IN SACRIFICING
THEM FOR THE GOOD OF THE NATION
*****************************************

I am emailing this post to the QLD Country Life, The Land, and the other states Rural weekly papers. Also John Laws, Allan Jones, the Courier Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Age, The Adelaide Advertizer, The Hobart Mercury, and the Western Australian as well as Four Corners.

I am convinced that the city dewelling Australian public who love our farmers and have no end of admiration and respect for them will be horrified and disgusted that the Federal Government has forced QLD & NSW FARMERS to soley carry the load for what is a national problem and responsibility.


If you have made it this far with me - do me a favour, Subscribe at the top to receive your email notification. ITS SECURE & FREE and will really help. Currently each time I publish I'm sending out over 1,000 emails. it's hugely time consuming.

So do me a favour - put your email address in and hit get email updates.

Your Agmate - Steve
AGMATES 100% PRO _ AUSTRALIAN FARMERS

AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Keep your Head below the Parapit?

G'day,

***********************************************
NFF CAUGHT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
***********************************************

Had no reply from the NFF (the muted whispers of Australian farmers) to my questions as to why they have done nothing about lobbying for farmers interest in the formation of a National Emissions Trading Scheme.


Perhaps this email Agmates got from a NSW Farmers executive might give you a clue. I asked this person if I could identify them, but they (just like the NFF) have never responded.


P.S. For your information Agmates have received emails from 2 NSW Farmers exec's (We won't embarrass them by revealing who they are) asking to be removed from the email list (now thats really keeping your head "below the parapet")


***********************************************
EMAIL RECEIVED FROM NSW FARMER EXEC***********************************************

From: NAME REMOVED BY AGMATES
Sent: 18/03/2007 10:02 PM
To: trumanlivestock@bigpond.com
Subject: Barking up the wrong tree


Dear Mr Truman,

Thank you for copying me in on your round robin.

Please have a read of http://www.corporateeurope.org/greenhouse/fraud.html and tell me what you think

My feeling is that agriculture is a net contributor to green house gas emissions so we might be barking up the wrong tree to raise our heads above the parapet and ask to be checked out by the scientists in the hope that we'll get a payout!


They're more likely to ask for some money from us than pay us out anything.


My FEELING is that a native forest is an equal consumer and producer of carbon and is therefore in balance with the world however a wheat field or a beef property are producing more CO2 than they consume.

It would be interesting to hear your views

NAME REMOVED BY AGMATES.


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AGMATES SENDS A LONG REPLY - SOME EXCERPTS
**********************************************

From: Truman Livestock [mailto:trumanlivestock@bigpond.com]
Sent: 19/03/2007 12:34 PM
To: NAME REMOVED

Subject: Hello (NAME REMOVED)

G’day (NAME REMOVED BY AGMATES,)



Thanks for your email.



I have read the entire document you sent me - “Greenhouse Market Mania” published by The Corporate Europe Observatory that you have sent me.



(NAME REMOVED) it would be a wonderful thing if EVERY AUSTRALIAN FARMER read this document. The line in the document that says Emissions Trading will be a 13 trillion dollar industry by the year 2050 is a stand out for me. There is enormous money involved in this.


You are quite right in saying that Agriculture is a NET CONTRIBUTOR to greenhouse gas emissions. The document you have sent me makes it quiet clear that if you are a net emitter YOU WILL PAY.


(NAME REMOVED) AUSTRALIAN FARMERS CAN’T KEEP THERE HEADS DOWN HOPING NOT TO BE NOTICED is all of this, it’s gone too far.


The federal government has been forced into a National Emissions Trading Scheme by the weight of pressure from International and National forces.


The formation of the International Emissions Trading Associations is an example of this. This partnership with players such as the Australian Stock Exchange, the International Petroleum Exchange, Shell, BP Amoco, Statoil and Tokyo Electric Power, aims to create a global emissions market, with or without the Kyoto Protocol.



It’s in the media everyday.....you have the British Government enacting laws to bring about a 60% reduction in emissions by the year 2050. The British opposition wants the cuts to be 80% the greens want 90%.



You have the World Bank lining up to be the Number 1 carbon trading entity........... you have the largest companies in the world, e.g. Mitsubishi, Shell, Monsanto etc lobbying hard for their interests............ you have governments of countries Jockeying for position........ you have world equity markets gearing up to trade carbon credits and their derivatives.



RIGHT NOW in Australia you have our version of this being played out as we speak – It’s called THE NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (NETS) Prime Ministers Taskforce.


It’s in the national media everyday that every powerful business and conservation lobby groups are making submissions to the government to protect their position in the formation of the NETS.



HOW CAN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS IGNORE THIS?


Farming as an industry is the 2nd largest emitter of Greenhouse gas in Australia. The scientists have already established this. If you doubt this just go to the Australian Greenhouse Office web site and see that they can already tell you through land mapping how much CO2 your farm emits each year. Now with the implementation of NLIS that measuring is even more accurate.


In the formation of the NETS, AUSTRALIAN FARMERS WILL PAY if they are a net emitter, that’s a done deal.


What should be being lobbied for by the NFF is that farmers should be able to count offsets from “Carbon Sinks” in soil on the property.


This is not even on the agenda. The only thing that counts is Forestry, and the Forestry industry is making STRONG representation to the NETS for their industry.


To be in line with the rest of the world AUSTRALIAN FARMERS should be able to balance their emissions from their farms with carbon sequestrations from all forms of “Carbon Sinks” on their properties. Theses carbon sinks include, soil, native trees, woody weeds, minimum till farming, running less livestock, etc. This would leave farmers in a position to be carbon positive and hence able to SELL carbon credits created on their farm to the likes of the Energy industry who can only emit, not sequester.


Indeed the American government as a result of pressure from the powerful US Farm lobby has repeatedly threatened not to ratify the Kyoto protocol unless all forms of Agricultural carbon sinks can be counted. The Kyoto protocol says you can only count Forests and nothing else.

This is the SCANDAL in all of this. AUSTRALIAN FARMERS are TOTALLY UNREPRESENTED in all of this.


They are LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER.


Do Aussie farmers really want to TRUST their fate and future to global Companies, BIG Governments, Mining & Heavy industry and the neo-pastoralist Conservation groups?


(NAME WITHHELD) I can see you are on the NSW Farmers Association, PLEASE TELL AUSTRALIAN FARMERS – that this is not the case!


If not then join me and the other concerned Agmates in demanding that the NFF get involved and START LOBBYING hard for AUSTRALIAN FARMERS interests in this.


(NAME WITHHELD),
I want to publish your email and this reply on Agmates. However if you’d prefer I will keep your name anonymous and publish without identifying you by name.



Thanks again for the email and the information and look forward to hearing from you soon.


Steve Truman

Rural Information, Technology & E-commerce

Unashamedly working to help you make your rural enterprise more profitable!

AGMATES – 100% PRO – AUSTRALIAN FARMER

***********************************************
NOTICE TO NFF & ALL STATE FARMER GROUPS
***********************************************

If Agmates is WRONG, then refute what we have been saying.


IF AGMATES is right - GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDES AND GET IN THERE FIGHTING FOR AUSTRALIAN FARMERS RIGHTS - BEFORE ITS TO LATE!

Either way - DO SOMETHING!

Your Agmate Steve.

NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION - Representing whose best interests????????

G'day Agmates,

***********************************************
FINALLY WE HAVE A RESPONSE FROM THE NFF
***********************************************


There is no need for me to publish the huge list of names I've received demanding the NFF take action because we at last have a response from them.


Below is a copy of the email for you to read and thank you to Seamus and the NFF.


What you will find facinating is the link to the report By Allen Consulting completed in April 2006. Click on the link and you can read the 67 page report which confirms what Agmates has been telling you.


The NFF obviously want to get this information out to EVERY AUSTRALIAN FARMER. What better way than through Agmates?


See below the email for Agmates comments and questions to the NFF.


************************************************
emissions trading
Seamus Hoban
Monday, 19 March, 2007 4:30:09PM
To:steve@agmates.com
Cc:
*************************************************


Hi Steve,


Below is a consultants report the NFF commissioned regarding emissions trading in early 2006.


http://www.nff.org.au/pages/pub/ACG_Emissions%20Trading_April%202006.pdf


The NFF has put together an emissions trading taskforce representing all state members and commodities, and is in the process of finalising a submission to the Prime Minister’s Emissions Trading Task Group.


Happy to discuss further,


Regards,
Seamus Hoban
Policy Advisor (Land Management)
Victorian Farmers Federation
Phone: (03) 9207 5525
Email: shoban@vff.org.au


*********************************************
AGMATES COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
*********************************************


1. Seamus it is my understanding that the Prime Minister requested the NFF make a submission to the Emissions Trading Task Group when it was announced.


2. Why then has the NFF after engaging a professional consulting group to put the submission together still not completed that submission?


3. The deadline for the submissions has passed and if it had not been for the Prime Minister granting an extension AUSTRALIAN FARMERS would have been completely unrepresented in this matter.


This is despite the Allen report completed in April 2006 strongly recommending that the NFF be involved in all aspects of the formulation of any Emissions Trading Scheme "as AUSTRALIAN FARMERS are Key Stakeholders in the formation of any such scheme."


4. Agmates has uncovered that the submission is not finished because key committee executive/s of the NFF have been uncooperative in the preparation of that submission.


5. Further Agmates is lead to believe that those person/s have strong ties with environmental and conservation groups and as recently as last week were still expressing their opposition to the submission being made.


This is a disgraceful situation. Every single member of the NFF, the PEAK FARMERS LOBBY GROUP should be 100% PRO - AUSTRALIAN FARMER and nothing else.


If it is the case these people should be removed immediatley from the NFF executive. They are playing with the reputation and livehoods of the NFF, State Farmer Associations, Commodity Groups and 120,000 AUSTRALIAN FARMERS and their familes.


6. If this is not the case, then tell AUSTRALIAN FARMERS why the NFF has been caught flat footed on this issue. The NFF has known this has been coming for years. The Allen report told the NFF not only to be ready but in what areas to be ready in.


7. It would appear that the NFF have not taken not one scrap of action on any one of the 6 recommendations of the Allen report commissioned in April 2006. WHY?


The Agmates readers / AUSTRALIAN FARMERS await your / the NFF reply and look forward to STRONG ACTION by the NFF on behalf of all AUSTRALIAN FARMERS in this matter.

Cheers,

Your Agmate - Steve

AGMATES - 100% PRO - AUSTRALIAN FARMER

ALL AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Missing out on a BILLION DOLLAR Industry - WHY?

G'day Agmates,

****************************************
THE NFF IS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
****************************************

Right now an industry larger than the ENTIRE VALUE per annum of AUSTRALIAN RURAL EXPORTS is being formulated.

The NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (NETS) will be worth BILLIONS. It's staggering how much money is involved.

Farmers should be a MAJOR player in this market. With BILLIONS OF DOLLARS flowing into FARMERS pockets.

Farmers ARE NOT EVEN INVOLVED in the formulation / implementation of the NETS.

Every other powerful environmental (anti - farmer) and Industry group is a contributing stakeholder to the NETS. Lobbying for their industry / agenda.

Click on Blue links to see how hard the Aluminium,Business Council and Plantation Industries are lobbying. Click HERE and read about every Group EXCEPT FARMERS who are lobbying hard for their own interests.

The NETS will cause the greatest CHANGE TO AUSTRALIAN FARMING EVER SEEN in the history of AGRICULTURE in Australia.

It is not even on the National Farmers Federations Agenda. See a copy of the NFF agenda here for 2006 - 2009.

The NFF is (YOUR) AUSTRALIAN FARMERS LOBBY GROUP. "The voice of Australian farmers" Why arn't they at the table?

On this issue you have no voice. AUSTRALIAN FARMERS ARE TOTALLY UNREPRESENTED. Why, Why, Why ?


*******************************************
FARMERS WANT ANSWERS?
*******************************************

1. Why is this issue not on the NFF agenda. It should be top of the list and they should be SCREAMING BLUE MURDER.

2. Why has the Liberal / Nation Party SACRIFICED AUSTRALIAN FARMERS by stopping Land Clearing in NSW & QLD to meet their commitments to the Kyoto agreement?

3. Why have the State Agri-Political Associations been gaged on this issue?

4. Why has the rural press virtually ignored this issue, while continuing to run mostly feel good rural stories.

5. Why have we heard nothing from National senators Ron Boswell and Barnaby Joyce (the protectors of rural Australia) on this issue.



*******************************************
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
*******************************************

1. What is URGENTLY needed is for the NFF to get in there BOOTS and ALL fighting the federal & state governments for AUSTRALIAN FARMERS INTERESTS on this issue.

2. AUSTRALIAN FARMERS as the 2nd biggest Carbon Emitting Industry (this is where farmers pay) while being custodians of the largest Carbon Sinks (this is where farmers can get paid) in Australia and NOW DEMAND that their voice be heard.


******************************************
WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A FARMER
BEFORE IT'S TO LATE
******************************************

1. "The voice of Australian Farmers" (the NFF) is mute on this issue. The voice of the AUSTRALIAN FARMERS State Agri-political Associations if audible at all is falling on DEAF EARS at the NFF.

2. But YOU as an individual FARMERS have a voice. IT"S TIME TO USE IT _ BEFORE IT"S TO LATE.


*****************************************
USE YOUR VOICE NOW - THERE IS 120,000 OF
YOU, PLUS YOUR SUPPORTERS.
*****************************************

1. Email Agmates now at steve@agmates.com - just write - I'm a FARMER, don't sacrifice me for the "National Good". (Agmates will publish each and every farmers name, like a petition, so that the world, politicans, Agri-Politicans and Canberra Lobby groups can see AUSTRALIAN FARMERS WANT ACTION)

2. Email or call 5 other Farmers and get them to do the same.

THEN IF YOU CARE ENOUGH -(you can't leave this to anybody else)

3. Email or call you local Agri-political representative and ask him - What "THE HELL THEY ARE DOING to get Australian Farmers into the decision making process. Nothing less than the NFF representing AUSTRALIAN FARMERS as a stakeholder in the formation of the NETS will do.

4. Email or phone your local Member of Parliament, both State and Federal and tell them you want some action.

5. Write or email your state RURAL NEWSPAPER and Ask why they arn't covering this issue.

*******************************************
TAKE ACTION NOW OR LIVE
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES FOREVER - BUT YOU
MUST ACT NOW - BEFORE IT's TO LATE
******************************************

THE BALLS NOW IN YOUR COURT

Agmates has given you the chance to be heard. Take it or take whats dished up to you in the near future.

You can't rely on the government looking after your interests - look what they have done to you on LAND CLEARING, "in the NATIONAL INTEREST".

Cheers,

Your Agmate - Steve

AGMATES 100% PRO-AUSTRALIAN FARMERS

RAIN FROM NOWHERE - (It's bloody tough being an Australian farmer)

G,day Agmates,

Off agri-politics today but an extremely potent issue. Perhaps Mary-Ann Wrights comments on rural suicide prompted Agmate Luke Kuerschner from Milparinka (Near Tibooburra in far North west NSW)to email me this fantastic poem.


It put a lump in my throat - see how you go.


The author is Murray Hartin from Moree. My dad was mates with Murray's dad. Murray was a few years ahead of me at school.


RAIN FROM NOWHERE..... by Muzza

His cattle didn't get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn't feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month's talk of rain was just a fairytale,
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what's owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road


"Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
"Now I'm such a useless bastard, I'll have to shut the gate.
"Can't support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
"Christ, Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war."


With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There's no place in life for failures, he'd end it all tonight.
There were still some things to do, he'd have to shoot the cattle
first,
Of all the jobs he'd ever done, that would be the worst.


He'd have a shower, watch the news, then they'd all sit down for tea
Read his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he'd blow away the blues.


But he drove in the gate and stopped - as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox - and found a letter from his Dad.
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the style from the notebooks that he used at cattle
sales,


He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.


"Son, I know it's bloody tough, it's a cruel and twisted game,
"This life upon the land when you're screaming out for rain,
"There's no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
"But don't let the demon get you, you have to do what's right,
"I don't know what's in your head but push the bad thoughts well
away
"See, you'll always have your family at the back end of the day
"You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
"But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
"I'm worried about you son, you haven't rung for quite a while,
"I know the road you're on 'cause I've walked every bloody mile.


"The date? December 7 back in 1983,
"Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.
"See, I'd borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
"Then it didn't rain for years and we got bombed by interest rates,
"The bank was at the door, I didn't think I had a choice,
"I began to squeeze the trigger - that's when I heard your voice.


"You said 'Where are you Daddy? It's time to play our game'
"' I've got Squatter all set up, you might get General Rain.'
"It really was that close, you're the one that stopped me son,
"And you're the one that taught me there's no answer in a gun.
"Just remember people love you, good friends won't let you down.
"Look, you might have to swallow pride and get a job in town,
"Just 'til things come good, son, you've always got a choice
"And when you get this letter ring me, 'cause I'd love to hear your
voice."


Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck in
gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales of hay.


Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head held
high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.
He called for his wife and children, who'd lived through all his pain,
Hugs said more than words - he'd come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of rain.


Murray Hartin

February 21, 2007

Muzza (Murray Hartin) has been asked to pen something for the
Salvation Army that can bring awareness to the general public about
Rural suicide. He came up with this poem which I think is
exceptional, brought a tear to my eye anyhow.


When I went down south at the end of 2006 buying cattle out of the drought areas of NSW and Vic. There was one case a day of rural suicide. In fact I relayed to Muz a
case where one poor fellow actually shot all of his dairy cows and
then himself during the time I was in Victoria.


Please read this as it is quite possibly the best of Muzza's work
ever!! Other work of Murray's including his monumental poem
"Turbulence" will be available on his new website soon
www.murrayhartin.com .

_____________________________________________

Thanks for that Luke

Cheers, your Agmate Steve

AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - What hope.....Comments

G'day Agmates,

I see todays article has lite up computers across rural Australia -
Here are a couple of comments I received by email tonight -
_________________________________________

From: mal peters [mailto:@nswfarmers.org.au]
Sent: 12/03/2007 10:03 PM
To: 'Truman Livestock'
Subject: RE: AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Really, what hope have you got?

Steve
It occurred to me when reading this persons email that if we are only 4% of the population and because of that unable to influence policy why have agri-political organisations. Perhaps he should resign.

The more important fact is that agriculture plus the added value of our production is 13% of Australia’s GDP and we contribute about 20% to Australia’s export income. We employ about 17% of the work force (1.6miliom). Not to mention the reliance most regional communities have on agriculture.

I nearly forgot, perhaps producing food for the nation might be important too.
Mal

_____________________________________

From: Peter & Mary Ann Wright [mailto: @ .net.au]
Sent: 12/03/2007 7:58 PM
To: Truman Livestock
Subject: Re: AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Really, what hope have you got?

In reply,

How dare you!

Why not put in the subject that all farmers should just give up and get out NOW. Where would the economy of Australia be then? No wheat, no meat, no wool, no cotton. and on and on and on and on!!!!

How many farmers take their own lives every week in Australia? Are you in the business of making them feel that they have even less hope than they had yesterday. If you are, then well done!

You have achieved your aim. Many people only read the first two lines (or just the Subject:) of an email before they decide whether to continue reading. So many of us get so many junk emails we have learnt to only read the first line of the subject.

Your email would have put them off reading any more, AND, convinced them that farming is a no hope occupation. THANKS!

As we say to our children, "think about all the consequences of your action" before you take action.

Thanks for nothing!

Mary-ann Wright. (the other half of PB & MA Wright)

NB: (This is a personal view of the writer not the partnership.)

___________________________________________

Agmates Comment
Obviously it's not all accolades & encouragement when you try to champion the AUSTRALIAN FARMERS cause. Oh well..... sigh.
Cheers - Your Agmate - Steve

AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Really, what hope have you got?

G'day Agmates,

What hope have FARMERS got when the people that represent them have given up. I was appalled by this email I got from an AgForce person. I can't even imagine why they'd be purporting to represent QLD farmers.

Below is a copy of the email I got and below that my reply. As you will see I've kept this AgForce person's identity confidential. I see this persons name in the Queensland Country Life regularly.
_______________________________________________

From: (Name suppressed by Agmates) [mailto: @bigpond.com]
Sent: 08/03/2007 10:05 AM
To: Truman Livestock
Subject: Re: Agmates Alert - Breaking News

Please remove me from your Email list. This is unsolicited Email Perhaps you should read some of Agforce's press releases on Land clearing.
We know we have been sacrificed but only 4% of the population are farmers and that voting % means nothing.

_________________________________________________

Below is my reply, which the AgForce person has not answered.

_________________________________________________


From: Truman Livestock [mailto:trumanlivestock@bigpond.com]
Sent: 08/03/2007 11:51 AM
To: 'Name suppressed by Agmates'
Subject: (Name) - Australian Farmers Need YOU

G’day (Name),

Thanks for your email. At your request I’ve removed you from the Email list. I’d just like to clarify 3 points you raised in your email:


1. “This is unsolicited Email”:
Your email address is listed on the AgForce web site. I can only guess it is there because you want people to contact you about issues that are related to your role as an AgForce office holder.

In my 2 emails that is exactly what I’ve done. The only thing I’m peddling is a FAIR GO for the 1,000’s of QLD farmers your organization represents. I apologizes if this has offended you.


2. “Read AgForce’s press releases on Land Clearing”:

I would like to read the press releases on Land Clearing that you refer to. If you could tell me where to get hold of them, I’d be grateful.

I have a completely open mind on the subject and can only present the facts as I find them.

My suspicion is that AgForce and the other farmer representative bodies have been badly let down by the NFF on this issue and I’d like to bring that to every AUSTRALIAN FARMERS attention.


3. “We know we have been sacrificed, but only 4% of the population are farmers and that voting means nothing”:


(Name), unfortunately this is not the 1st time I’ve heard this sentiment / opinion from a representative of a State Agripolitical organization. I detect a lot of frustration in what you and others are saying. From what I’ve discovered I can understand your feelings.



However I’d urge you not to give up. I know you and your fellow AgForce representative know that Farmers HAVE BEEN SACRIFICEDand the real story of why FARMERS ARE NOT BEING REPRESENTED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.


But the problem is getting that information, and THE STORY OF THIS SCANDALOUS SITUATION to the 120,000 farmers across Australia.


THAT"S WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WITH AGMATES. Let me clarify firstly that Agmates has absolutely no political agenda, it is 100% PRO-FARMER.


Agmates uses the latest technology, email and – Blogging to give informed opinion backed up by links to the source documents, e.g. any farmer in Australia is able to Click the Link in my article Australian Farmers – Are they Second Rate Citizens?


FARMERS can read the 263 page NETS discussion paper or the related communiques and submissions for themselves. This is an incredibly powerful medium.


I don’t believe for a minute that my vote, your vote, plus the other 119,999 FARMER votes across Australia means nothing.


That number does represent 4% of the voters but it does not take into account all ex farmers, people who come from the land (and still have a strong affiliation with rural Australia), extended families and friends.


With the above numbers and the number of people who are sympathetic and empathetic to farmers would be 5 times that number or 20% of voters. Look what the GREEN’S have achieved with just 6-8% of voters.


We just need to get active and get the message out there. At present Agmates is being regularly read by people from Port Douglas to Perth.


We have a big percentage of our readers are people in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra (interesting), Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. We also have readers in the UK, USA, China, India, Europe and Asia. What an opportunity to get REAL AUSTRALIAN FARMER ISSUES out one the table.


(Name), from your email I think you are ONE OF THE GOOD GUY’S.


I’d ask that you join me and my friends in helping spread the message, rather than just give up.


Mate I’d really like to publish your email to me and this reply but respect your privacy and will only do so with your permission (otherwise I’ll publish it anonymously).


You can help and contribute by firstly contributing your views and information to be published on Agmates for every one else to read (You can do this by email).


Secondly by emailing an Agmates link to everybody you know so they have the opportunity to see the issues that you / we raise and pursue.


So there you have it. I have taken you off the AGMATES email distribution list and will leave it like that unless I hear from you. All the best!


Cheers – Your Agmate, Steve Truman

_____________________________________________


P.S. I never heard back from this AgForce person. Really, I mean What Hope have QLD farmers got with an attitude like this AgForce person has.

Cheers - You Agmate Steve

NSW Government - Try's to SHUT AGMATES DOWN

G'day Agmates,

What a week it's been. Had huge reaction to this weeks articles from right across Australia. You know what we are discussing is hitting a raw nerve when someone in the NSW government is trying to SHUT AGMATES DOWN.

I opened my emails on Thursday and my Anti Virus software came up with a huge warning!!!! "Do not open the Attachment on this email it contains a HIGH PRIORITY VIRUS."

The email came from orney@bizlink.nsw.gov.au with the message "Important textfile".

Inside that text file was a huge virus that if I opened it, would have completely destroyed my computer (it was safely quarantined and destroyed). See copy of email (with virus removed of course) below.

I did some research and found out that bizlink.nsw.gov.au is the NSW Government Department that provides IT and Communications systems for amoung other people - THE STATE POWER INDUSTRY, STATE WATER INFASTUCTURE, STATE CLIMATE CHANGE.

So to the faceless, nameless and gutless NSW government official who attempted to SHUT AGMATES down, all I can say is:

Agmates was still of the opinion that FREEDOM OF SPEECH is a basic rite of ALL AUSTRALIAN'S. If you don't agree with the facts that AGMATES has published for the world see, tell Agmates why we are wrong, but don't be a GUTLESS GERM and try and SHUT US DOWN.

Copy of Email below_________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: orney@bizlink.nsw.gov.au [mailto:orney@bizlink.nsw.gov.au]
Sent: 08/03/2007 8:16 PM
To: trumanlivestock@bigpond.com
Subject: Information
Importance: High

Important textfile!
__________________________________________

AGMATES - Bringing you the TRUTH the NSW government does NOT want you to see!
Cheers - Your Agmate Steve

Australian Farmers - How you have been Hood-Winked on Land Clearing!

G'day,

I'm setting out here for you how the Federal Government has SACRIFICED AUSTRALIAN FARMERS to meet it's commitment to the international community.

In Kyoto Japan in 1997 the Federal Government AGREED to a TARGET of limiting GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS to 108% of the amount of Greenhouse Gas emitted in 1990 (The Base Year). In other words they agreed (even though they would not sign the Kyoto Agreement) to limit our increase of Greenhouse Gas emissions over the period 2008-2010 (known as the first commitment period) to an 8% increase from 1990.

In exchange for agreeing to this Senator Ian Campbell negotiated a clause(Clause 3.7)internationally known as "The Australian Clause."

The Australian Clause was inserted in the dying hours of the Kyoto Climate Change Conference and effectively only applies to Australia amongst the industrialized countries.

Clause 3.7 in every day English says that Australia in calculating the 1990 baseline the Greenhouse Office would count emissions from land-use change (tree clearing). That was calculated at 89.8 Metric Tonnes of carbon or 18.9% of AUSTRALIA'S total Greenhouse Gas emissions.

In late 2006 former Federal Environ minister Senator Ian Campbell in Parliament restated the federal governments commitment to meeting it's target and sang the praises of "the tremendous effort by governments, industry and the Australian community" in cutting emissions. He received a standing ovation in Parliament his achievements.

What Senator Campbell didn't say but is well known by all Liberal and National Party members is that Australia being "on target" is principally the result of the restricting of "Land Clearing" in NSW & Queensland.

What the Federal government does not reveal is that for the period 1990 to 2002 is that total reductions of 78 million tonnes have been achieved through limiting "land Clearing" by farmers.

For exactly the same period the Energy sector has increased emissions by 85 million tonnes.

So the HUGE INCREASE in emissions from the Energy sector has been almost entirely off-set by clearing fewer trees.

Mal Peters the immediate past president of the NSW Farmers Association says this has been at a HUGE cost to individual landholders in NSW & QLD farming, estimating it to be $600 million dollars per year.

Mal Peters says that farmers need to know that "Land Clearing Bans" imposed on farmers after 1997 were driven by the deal the Australian Coalition Government did under Article 3.7 (the Australian Clause) and not by conservation science.

The Australian clause takes the pressure off the Energy Sector, which has had huge increases in Greenhouse Gas output and places it heavily on the shoulders of Australia's 120,000 farmers. It is costing farmers billions of dollars a year in lost production opportunities.

We now have the National Emissions Task Force formulating an emissions trading scheme. Australia's 120,000 farmers are TOTALLY UNREPRESENTED in the formulation of that trading scheme.

That scheme once legislated into Parliament will govern who pays and how much CARBON TAX is paid. It also will legislate who can get paid for Carbon Off-sets. Once in place, changing anything will require changing an act of Parliament.

It has been suggested to me that Australia's 120,000 farmers don't need to be concerned because the Liberal National Party will look after them. The Coalitions treatment of farmers on using "vegetation management" legislation to achieve their Kyoto targets makes that abundantly clear that is not the case.

It's time that your Rural Industry Representatives publicly expose this SHAM that has been wrought upon Australian Farmers. The fact that they have not already done so is a DISGRACE.

Individual farmers keep asking me what they can do about this if their industry representatives have failed them.

We as individuals can do nothing, but as 120,000 Australians with a vote and a federal election coming up we can do a lot. Fortunatly Politicians grow ears in election years. The internet allows individuals to get their views and concerns heard.

There are a lot of people across Australia watching this issue unfold on Agmates. Send me your thoughts, comments and messages either by email to trumanlivestock@bigpond.com or leave a comment by clicking on leave a comment and follow the instructions.

No one person can achieve anything on his own but as a large group we might at laest get your Farm Industry Representatives to listen to the voice of real rural produsers who are sick and tired of getting a RAW DEAL.

Cheers - Your Agmate - Steve

Farmers will pay $50 per head Carbon Tax to Gov for every cow sold

G'day,

Today I'm publishing an email Agmates received from Mal Peters. Mal is the Immediate Past President of the NSW Farmers Association.

What are the various farm lobby groups around the country doing about this? Why isn't the issue even on the National Farmers Federation agenda?

Let me tell you, if the NFF is not defending your interests - NO ONE IS!

This is either a total DISGRACE or a HUGE SCANDAL or both.

Cheers - Your Agmate Steve.

P.S. Email your comments to trumanlivestock@bigpond.com and I'll publish them for you or leave a comment at the bottom of the article.

P.S.S. Email this to your friends by click on the envelope at the bottom of the article.
___________________________________________


From: Mal & Anne Peters [mailto:@.com]
Sent: 05/03/2007 10:19 PM
To: 'Truman Livestock'

Subject: RE: Read This - Take Action - or Suffer The Consequences

Steve

I wonder how cattle producers will feel about paying $50.00 per head to Government for every cow they sell.

Cows emit through enteric fermentation (burping and farting) methane into the atmosphere. Methane is 17 times more lethal than carbon. Farmers emit 26% of Australia’s emissions, 60% of which is by cows and sheep.

Farmers must understand the risk this National Emission trading scheme is to our industry.

Particularly as farmers have no capacity to offset emission through carbon trading because Australia set a zero cap on Article 3.4 of Kyoto.

The Australian Government performed the greatest cost shift in Australia’s history.

Stopping Broad scale land clearing cost agriculture $600million per year and that reduction in carbon emissions has allowed the energy sector to increase emissions by 60% at no cost.

They then through bi-lateral agreements with state Governments forced them to implement the stopping of clearing

Do cattle producers feel confident the Australian Government will protect our interests after they abused us on Land clearing?

What you are doing here on Agmates is very important. The Australian Government has to be flushed out on the issue.

I asked Federal Minister for Agriculture Peter McGauran the following questions in last weeks Land newspaper.

1. If Australia ratified the Kyoto protocol on the basis of Australia’s existing agreements, could additional carbon sequestered in Australia’s agricultural soils as a result of changed land use be included as part of Australia’s greenhouse inventory, or utilised as an offset credit within a Kyoto compatible national emission trading scheme?

2. If there was a detailed assessment of the likely effect on Australia of including emission/sequestration under Article 3.4, will that assessment be made public? and

3. Has the Commonwealth Government carried out an assessment of the economic value of the emission reductions achieved by the agricultural sector as a consequence of banning land clearing, and will agriculture be given full credit for this in a future national emissions trading scheme?

I hope your readers can extract the answer to my questions through their local Federal Coalition member.

Keep up the pressure.

Mal Peters
Immediate Past President of NSW Farmers Association.

AUSTRALIAN FARMERS - Take ACTION NOW of suffer the Consequences

Gy'day,

This is a copy of an email that has been sent out to about 650 farmers across Australia. It has also been sent to 67 AgForce executives and delegates in QLD, 54 NSW Farmers Association exec's and delegates, 4 NT Cattlemans Association delegates, the President of the WA Farmers and Graziers, the President of the SA Farmers & Graziers, The President of the Victorian Farmers association, The Tassie Farmers and graziers, and the NNF.

I have also emailed it to the editors of the Land Newspaper (Andrew Marshall), the Queensland Country Life (Mark Phelps) and Lucy Skuthorp at the land who has did a great full page story in the Land newspaper (it was only given 1/4 page in the QCL) 2 weeks ago.

What are these organizations that are meant to be representing you doing about this?

I'm getting heaps of phone calls about this and I appreciate the encouragement and support.BUT please either place a comment or email me on trumanlivestock@bigpond.com and we can begin to get something happening to right this disgraceful situation.

Contact me - As a large group making a noise we can get something to happen. FARMERS must be heard on this issue.

Your Agmate - Steve

_______________________________________________________________
From: Truman Livestock [mailto:trumanlivestock@bigpond.com]
Sent: 05/03/2007 9:50 PM
To: 'trumanlivestock@bigpond.com'
Subject: Read This - Take Action - or Suffer The Consequences

Agmates – Alert: Breaking News

Bob Dylan wrote this and it has never been more applicable to farmers-

“ for he that gets hurt
will be he who has stalled
there’s a battle out side raging
it will soon shake you’re windows
and rattle you walls
for the times they are a changing!”

Now I’m going to go into something here and you can choose to click off right now, but when it comes and “shakes your windows and rattles your walls” (which it without a doubt will) just remember you have lost the right to complain that you weren’t told.

So if you have lost interest, see you and good luck.

Now for the rest of you, here’s why ‘the times they are a changing”:

As farmers you had better get use to operating your business for the next 50 years in a “CARBON CONSTRAINED WORLD”.

If you have not heard that term before, you’ll be saying WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

Our political leaders have decided that the planet is warming (0.6 degrees in the last 100 years) and we as humans are emitting more Greenhouse gases. Now no one can say for sure the two are linked.

But in case they are our leaders are not prepared to take the risk. So we now have a huge raft of policy being formulated to RESTRICT the amount of CARBON we as Australians emit.

The National Emissions Trading Scheme (NETS) has been worked on and developed since January 2004. This is the “battle that’s outside raging”. The reason it’s outside raging is that farmers have been totally left out of the process. Just about every powerful business, industry and environment lobby group in the country has had input into the formulation of the NETS. EXCEPT FARMERS.


“ for he that gets hurt, will be he who has stalled” Farmers are completely stalled (at a dead stop) when it comes to any input into the NETS and without their interest represented, FARMERS will be hurt.


The basics of a NETS and the impact on farmers:

 Carbon Emission Taxes will be legislated into State & Territory Laws within the next 12 – 18 months

 The Nation Emissions Trading Scheme will commence in 2010 (3 years)


 All Stakeholders to the NETS agree that if a business emits Carbon, they will pay. (Farmers as an industry are the 2nd biggest emitters of Carbon behind the power industry).

 Farmers as the 2nd biggest emitter of Green House gases will be forced, by Law to pay.

 Farmers in accordance will Kyoto protocol WILL NOT get paid Credits for land based (soil) Carbon Sinks.

 Farmers will be hit with triple whammy.

 Firstly through increased costs of Electricity, Fuel, Fertilizer, Chemical etc. These industries will pass on the cost (by way of increased prices) of the CARBON TAX they pay to State Governments

 Secondly, Grazing livestock, farming soil, clearing land all emit huge amounts of Carbon. Like the Electricity industry you will have to pay a CARBON TAX to your state government to continue these activities. Unlike the electricity industry you will not be able to pass the cost of the TAX onto your customers.

 Thirdly there will be genuine moves to restrict / cap the number of livestock grazed, the amount of country farmed, the amount of irrigation water used (already happening), the amount of land cleared (already happening). For example if you want to increase the number of cattle / sheep grazed or land farmed you will have to get a permit to do so. Which you will be able to, but you’ll have to pay for the permit and the extra Carbon you are Emitting.


The National Greenhouse Office (set up in 1997) has developed the most sophisticated land monitoring surveillance system in the world. The Greenhouse Office can already tell you with incredible accuracy how many tonnes of Carbon YOUR FARM emits each year.

To add to this - now with the implementation of NLIS the National Greenhouse Office can accurately tell how many livestock you are running on your property and how many tonnes of Carbon they are emitting a year.

Now if you are still with me click on this link to AGMATES and read my article Australian Farmers – Are they second rate citizens?

I’ve done an enormous amount of research to pull these facts together for you. To the best of my research FARMERS have been deliberately denied any input into the formation of the NETS. As Senator (and former Minister for the Environment) Ian Campbell has said, “there is nothing in it for farmers”.

The AGMATES article gives you all of the facts to back up what I’m saying plus links to the source material to check it out for yourself.

Once you have read the article and see what I’ve found you like me will find it just INCREDIBLE to believe that we have not heard our Agripolitical groups ABSOLUTELY KICKING AND SCREAMING about this. To my knowledge they are not.

I invite ANYBODY to contact me if I’m wrong. Go to the Agmates article by CLICKING HERE.

P.S – If you do nothing else about this, do yourself a favour and email it to everybody you know and ask them to do the same. You do that by clicking on the envelope below this article.

P.P.S. - I’m emailing it to everybody at the NNF, and to each office holder in the State and Industry association and council that the NFF represents.
They are –
NSW Farmers Association, Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association, Pastoralists’ and grazier’s Association of WA, South Australian Farmers Federation, Tasmania Farmer’s and grazier’s Association, Victorian Farmers Federation, Australian cane growers Council, Australian dairy farmers Limited, Australian Dried Fruits association, Cattle council of Australia, Cotton Australia Limited, Grains Council of Australia, Ricegrowers Association of Australia, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Wool Producers Australia. I’m also emailing it to the Network Of Concerned Farmers who are not covered by any of the above groups or the NNF.

Australian Farmers - Are they second rate citizens?

G'day,

Today I'm announcing that farming in Australia has changed from anything you have ever known. You'd better learn quickly what it takes to operate your business in a CARBON CONSTRAINED WORLD.

Our National & State leaders have decided that wether or not we humans are causing Global Warming they are not prepared to take the risk. So world wide the next 50 years of political will, is to put in place models and laws to constrain the amount of Greenhouse gases we as a nation emit.

What I want someone to tell me is WHY THE HELL Australian Farmers are being locked out of the process of formulating the National Emissions Trading Scheme. The structure of this scheme will impact on ALL FARM BUSINESSES for generations to come.

Once this scheme is implimented (in 2010) it will require an act of parliment to make any changes.

We have been moving towards this since January 2004 when at the request of the 6 State Premiers and 2 Chief Ministers a NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING TASKFORCE was established by the Commonwealth Goverment to develop a MODEL for a NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (NETS - remember this acronym, you will see it a lot).

The NETS is being initiated by State and Territory governments and will be legislated into State / Terrirory laws with all revenues collected going into State / Territory coffers.

The stated goal of the NETS is to achieve reductions in Austrailia's Carbon Emmissions of 60% by the middle of this century. Welcome to the new "CARBON CONSTRAINED" world of the 21st century.

What is a REAL CONCERN to Agmates is that except for the Forestry industry the FARMING BUSINESS COMMUNITY has had zero input into NETS evolution and inception even though it has an ENORMUS STAKE in the issue.

Here is the timeline of NETS evolution to date:

1. Jan 2004 - At request of 6 State (Labour) Premiers and 2 Territory Chief Justices the National Emissions Trading Taskforce (NETT) is established to begin developing the NETS model.

2. Dec 2004 - Taskforce presents it's report to Premiers and Chief Ministers.

3. Mar 2005 - Premiers & Chief Ministers release a joint communique.

4. Sep 2005 - Release of paper THE BACKGROUND PAPER FOR STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION INTO EMISSION TRADING (The Background Paper).

Now here's a list of THE STAKEHOLDERS - (As a farmers you tell me who the STAKEHOLDER is that is representing your interests):

Business Council for Sustainable Energy,
Investor Group on Climate Change,
Energy Users association of Australia,
A3P,
Auswind,
Energy Retailers Association of Australia,
National Generators Forum,
Renewable Energy Generators of Australia,
Energy Markets Reform Forum,
Minerals Council of Australia,
Insurance Council of Australia,
Australian Coal Association,
Australian Industry Greenhouse Network,
Australian Aluminium Council,
National Association for Forest Industries,
APPEA,
Cement Industry Federation,
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Plastic and Chemical Industry Association,
Australian Industry Group.

Hey maybe you do, but I don't see one organization in the list who would even be slightly interested in representing your (FARMERS & GRAZIERS) interests (except if you are in the Forestry industry)

But wait there were 7 other organizations invited to participate and submit submissions on THE BACKGROUND PAPER. Maybe one of them was representing FARMER & GRAZIER interests? They were:

Greenpeace
Climate Action Network of Australia,
Friends of the Earth,
Environment Victoria,
Australian Conservation Foundation,
Total Environment Centre,
WWF - Saving The Planet

If you believe any of the above 7 groups would be representing the Farming Industry best interests (The second largets emitters of Greenhouse gases in Australia behind power generation) you probably still believe in the Tooth Fairy.

Now the above organizations made 132 submissions on the NETS model.

5. Oct 2005 to Feb 2006 - Forums were held in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. At these forums the above groups worked on further developing the the NETs model. (Still not a Farmer Representative organization in sight).

One of the resolutions of these Forums was to enguage Consultants to estimate the likely impacts of a NETS on the Electricity sector and the broader economy.

6. Apr - 2006 - Again Stakeholder ROUND TABLES were held around the country. (Still not a Farmer representative body in sight).

7. Aug - 2006 - A Discussion Paper prepared by the Task Force was released. You can download it and read the whole 263 pages (as I've done) by clicking HERE.

8. Dec - 2006 The Task Force meets with Premiers and Chief Ministers to discuss the report.

9. Late -2006 The Prime Ministers Task Group on Emissions Trading is established. As a Joint Commonwealth - Business group they are to advise on a design of a workable Global Emissions Trading System that will be consistant with what other major countries are doing.

This Prime Ministers Group is seperate from the NETT which reports to the Premiers and Chief Ministers. The Prime Ministers Task Group is established to ensure that the scheme the Premiers come up with is internationally compatable.

10. Dec -2006 The NETTS forms an Offsets Working Group to develop an Offsets regime. This working group is to develop detailed recommendations on Forest Projects - involving Afforestration and ReForestration. Again no mention of any farming group being involved.

This is the part of the model that would enable AUSTRALIAN FARMERS to get paid for any Carbon Sequestration they may have by way of Carbon Sinks on their land. Yet there is no Farmer Group putting your case. This is being thrashed out with the Forestry industry.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Why arn't farmer agripolitical organizations one of the STAKEHOLDERS in the consulataion process? Why arn't you represented? Are Farmers really second rate Australian Citizens?

I'd love it if someone could let me know that in fact I'm wrong and that Farmers have had their interests represented in the strongest possible fashion to the NETS.

But I think not! If I'm wrong - let me know - Anyone?

Agmate - Steve

Greenpeace object to Farmers getting paid Carbon credits

G'day,

I've been off the air for a few days because I've been doing some research.

A good mate of mine and fellow Agmate Paul Williams emailed me this article from the Sydney morning herald For farmers, money does grow on trees.

It's a great story about Landcare launching a program CarbonSMART in NSW today paying farmers for growing and retaining tree's on their properties.

Greenpeace is critical of the scheme, but what else would you expect from the anti-farmer green religion brigade!

Ben Pearson, Greenpeace Energy Campaigner says you can't pay FARMERS because the trees might get burnt, die in a drought or get chopped down etc. There are other green religion sprukers who say the carbon sequestered is to hard to monitor.

This is absolute bullshit. As I said I've been doing some investigative work and here's what has been going on;

In 1997 - The Australian federal Government established through the Department of the Environment and Water Resources and the Australian Green House Office (didn't even know we had a Green House Office) the NATIONAL CARBON ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

Click on the link and you like me will be absolutley amazed.

You will see that they have developed the largest and most sophisticated land monitoring system in the world. Every square metre of Australia has been mapped back to 1972 and is monitored regularly. Yep, it's all there in black and white you are being watched and have been for years.

On the site you can even download a National Trading Accounting Tool Box that allows Farmers to track green house gas emissions and carbon stock changes resulting from their land use and management on their property.

You'll see for yourself that you can track on your property what carbon you are emitting by cropping, grazing livestock, clearing land, over grazing etc.

I have no idea what sort of tax payers money have gone into setting up this system, but it must be millions upon millions of dollars.

So for Greenpeace and other conservation organizations to say, it's to variable to track farmer sequested carbon is absolute bunkum. Which just proves how Anti - Australian farmer they are, determined to keep farmers locked out of the whole Carbon Trading Process.

That's enough for this post, but it's SCARY when you read my next article on how the ANTI-FARMER Greenpeace and Conservation movement has been one of the elite stakeholders in developing the NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME that will be implemented in Australia in 2010. (Yes it's already a done deal)

Until then - enjoy
Your Agmate - Steve

P.S The poll on wether you want a Carbon Trading Scheme implimented is obsolete - It's coming, but what are FARMERS getting out of it???????????