USDA GLOBAL-WARMING REPORT LOOKS LIKE SUPPORT FOR KYOTO TREATY

Why is a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report lending credence to the global-warming theory? Could it be that the White House requested Secretary Dan Glickman's folks to write a report enhancing administration efforts to implement the Kyoto Protocol without ratification by the U.S. Senate?

The September issues of The Missouri Ruralist appropriately raises a warning flag that the USDA, a respected agency of the federal government, is trying to add credibility to the global-warming theory and thus support the questionable Kyoto Protocol.

During high school science classes, I was taught that a theory was an unproven hypothesis. Global warming is, at best, a theory. In my stint at the USDA as an assistant secretary and later as deputy secretary, we had weekly briefings from top-level, respected USDA meteorologists who all agreed that global warming was not a threat. In fact, they agreed that over the long term our planet appeared to be cooling.

Most of us in production agriculture understand that the Kyoto Protocol would severely hamper U.S. agriculture and allow developing nations of the world, including Brazil, to produce crops and other related agricultural products with almost no fossil-fuel restrictions. The last thing we need in this country at this time of crisis-level prices for our farm commodities is to have further roadblocks put in our way as we compete with foreign producers.

Our farmers and ranchers can compete with other countries if we have a level playing field. That field is tilted badly enough with current trade restrictions, but the mandates of the Kyoto Protocol would just add fuel to the fire of a distorted and unfair agricultural trade balance.

This recent USDA report was done by a committee from the department. I have always had great respect for the USDA's careerists, but I also know that reports can be shaped to support a predetermined outcome. In addition, reports done by committee are always suspect in my mind.

U.S. farmers and ranchers are in a constant cost-price squeeze, which has currently developed into a crisis situation due to the depressed farm-gate prices for our basic commodities. Some studies show that under Kyoto, U.S. farmers would pay up to 25 percent to 50 percent more for inputs. Even if these are overestimates, we can't stand a 10 percent to 15 percent increase in production costs. It is clear to me that our farmers and ranchers are once again the sacrificial lambs for not only our country, but the rest of the world.

The USDA, which should be an advocate for farmers, especially in crisis times, appears to be bowing to political pressure to help put in place a protocol that will never be ratified by the U.S. Senate. It's time for our federal government to support our farm and ranch families and back away from the flawed Kyoto Protocol. It's also time for the executive branch of government to stop putting questionable environmental policies ahead of safe, reliable food and fiber supplies for the consumers of our nation.

Peter C. Myers of Sikeston is a state representative who served in the Reagan administration.