May. 06, 2022
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear SEC As a farmer, I am writing to submit comments to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule on the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors. The proposed rule is an example of overreach by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Farmers and ranchers like me are already heavily regulated by multiple agencies at the local, state and the federal level. The proposed rule's focus on the value chain for climate-related risks and impacts under Scope 3 means the start of the value chain, like farms and ranches, will face a disproportionate burden in having to provide unknown costs. Please understand that the farmers and ranchers bear the burdens of the bottom of the heap in so many respects. We already have significantly more obligations that increase our input costs beyond the market value of our crops and livestock. We cannot continue to increase our input costs, including information gathering and reporting, without a means of being remunerated for our increased input costs--not to mention the valuable hours such reporting will consume. Farmers play a leading role in climate sustainability. We conscientiously grow our crops and raise our cattle using the best possible means for environmental protection that we can. We recognize the importance of clean air, soil conservation, and water quality and conservation. Without protecting our elements, we, the 2% of our nation's population, have no means to do our jobs providing food, fuels and fibers for for the other 98% of the nation's population, including folks on the commission. I ask the SEC not to join other agencies in unnecessary and onerous regulations. It is the job of elected lawmakers, not unelected regulators, to adopt policies related to farmers and ranchers and our meager means of providing for ourselves while still providing food for you. Please don't join so many others who try to hamstring the farmers and ranchers. I am trying to nicely request that the SEC please stay in its lane. You already have much on your plate without taking on unnecessary regulations of farmers and ranchers. Regards, DONNA ASHCRAFT 19530 K Rd Mayetta, KS 66509