Jun. 08, 2022
Dear Special Counsel Staffin, As a citizen, I support stewardship of our natural resources. So do farmers who work hard to leave their land and water in better shape for future generations. Agriculture has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 24% since 1990, while also increasing production to feed, clothe and fuel an ever-growing population. I am concerned about new requirements that could be forced upon their operations from publicly traded companies who will be affected by the proposed rule. Recording every drop of fuel, pound of feed and gallon of propane used at each step on the farm will be wildly expensive and onerous for any farmer to comply with, especially for small family farmers. I am also worried that the proposed rule will be incredibly invasive, forcing farmers to hand data over to the SEC that would tell it nearly every single detail about their business. Those in agriculture are committed to producing more while using fewer inputs. The best way to achieve this goal is a continuation of voluntary, market-driven approaches, not heavy-handed government mandates such as this proposed rule. To avoid harm to the industry and increased supply chain volatility, I urge the SEC to immediately halt this development of this rule. Sincerely, Jim Sonnemaker