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Ohio Farm Bureau submits public letter to SEC on climate disclosure

Last week, the Ohio Farm Bureau submitted an open letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a proposed rule that would require public companies to issue climate disclosures.

The letter stated that Ohio Farm Bureau members, and Farm Bureau members across the country, are committed to transparency in climate-related matters. “However, without changes and clarification, the Proposed Rules would be widely burdensome and expensive if not altogether impossible for many small and mid-sized farmers… as they require reporting of climate data at the local level,” the letter stated. It added that such requirements could lead to further farm consolidation, negatively impacting the economies in rural and farming communities and beyond.

“We do not believe the SEC fully considered nor has sufficiently sought to mitigate the potential socioeconomic impact of the Proposed Rules on agricultural communities,” said Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy with Ohio Farm Bureau. “We also believe that the Proposed Rules will not only adversely impact farmers, but also harm consumers and erode the strength of America’s agricultural industry.” The letter detailed efforts already underway in Ohio to make an impact on reducing carbon emissions and promoting carbon capture in agriculture.

Read the full letter here.