Florida Farm Bureau is encouraging all Farm Bureau members in the state to join together in a unified request to federal lawmakers: Don't Cap Our Future. The appeal is directed to members of Congress who are addressing restrictive climate change legislation that could hurt agriculture, consumers and the national economy.

"Don't CAP Our Future" is a grassroots campaign involving Farm Bureau members from across the nation. Farmers and ranchers are speaking out against congressional climate legislation. Playing off the cap-and-trade climate change bills in the House and Senate, Farm Bureau is encouraging members to participate in the campaign by signing an unused farm cap, including a message sticker that reads, "Don't CAP Our Future" and dropping off the farm cap at one of the state offices of their U.S. Senators. Florida Farm Bureau will also be collecting signed caps to present at Senate offices.

The campaign was kicked off October 28-30 at FFBF's 68th Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach. Members signed caps and cards that will be delivered to Florida's US Senators later this year. Materials are also be distributed through the field staff and the County Farm Bureaus.

Members are also encouraged to get involved online.

• CLICK HERE to send a personalized email to your Senators.

• CLICK HERE to sign an online petition.

• CLICK HERE to join the "Don't CAP Our Future" Facebook page.

The House has already passed climate change legislation that is bad for agriculture and now an even worse bill is nearing action in the Senate. Farmers and ranchers must speak out now to keep this legislation from becoming law.Cap-and-trade legislation would impose higher energy and food costs on consumers, raise fuel, fertilizer and energy costs for farmers and ranchers, and shrink the American agricultural sector, resulting in reduced U.S. food production.

CONTACT: Adam Basford, Adam.Basford@FFBF.org, 352-374-1544.