Support local farmers to combat climate change

OPEC, the Arab oil cartel, made clear how to deal with climate change in 1973 when they embargoed America's oil supply. If we ever wanted to reduce our dependence on oil - which we now must to avoid runaway climate change - oil must be made more expensive. To that end, increasing numbers of nations, in addition to American states like California and Washington, are promoting carbon taxes to reduce oil consumption.

But, without provisions to protect small farmers, carbon taxes will bankrupt them. Eight of every ten acres in northern Illinois is already owned by absentee investors, farmed by tenants who previously lost farms to bankruptcy. Small farmers today receive only pennies of every food dollar. Paying even more for agrochemicals will ruin them.

A rising tax on carbon will produce three essential outcomes: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Tax revenue can be redistributed as a dividend to American households to ease the pain of higher energy prices. Realistically, only the lower half of the income distribution should receive this help. The upper half doesn't need it; The remaining revenue should instead pay farmers to transition to regenerative no-till farming which restores soil health, sequesters carbon, grows healthier food, and benefits farmers through lower production costs and premium-priced products to sell locally. It's not a handout. Farmers earn every penny. Everyone benefits from more sustainable local farms. Pragmatically, they guarantee we can still feed ourselves locally even after affordable oil becomes unavailable.

Contact your congressperson and demand a tax on carbon to reverse climate change, linked by law to payments to farmers for switching to regenerative no-till farming. Then fight climate change by buying local regenerative food.

Donovan C. Wilkin

Associate Director, McHenry/Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District

Huntley