The farming community around Glen Innes will have the opportunity this Thursday night to find out how the proposed emissions trading scheme will affect agriculture.

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams who is based at Inverell will outline what he sees as the problems with the E.T.S which is part of the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

Senator Williams said The Nationals are vehemently opposed to the E.T.S. because it will have a severe impact on our two big export earners – agriculture and the mining industry.

"The Federal Government says it will make a decision in 2013 on whether agriculture should be included from 2015, but what it is not telling farmers is they are really included from July 2011 because they will be paying more for inputs like electricity, fertilizer and chemicals.

They like other industries will be at the mercy of traders who will dictate the permit price of carbon.

The Nationals believe that if agriculture is included, farmers should be given carbon credits for all the work they do in sequestering carbon into the soil, and in that way they could earn a few dollars rather than being forced to their knees all the time.

The emissions trading scheme will be the death knell for many Australian industries and people must start to realise its dire consequences", Senator Williams said.

This Thursday night's meeting is open to all farming and community members and commences at 7 o'clock at the Commercial Hotel Motel, Deepwater.

ENDS