Posted on 12/05/2008 2:34:43 PM PST by LurkedLongEnough
MONTGOMERY, Ala.–For farmers, this stinks: Belching and gaseous cows and hogs could start costing them money if the federal government decides to charge fees for air-polluting animals.
Farmers so far are turning their noses up at the notion, which they contend is a possible consequence of an Environmental Protection Agency report after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gases emitted by belching and flatulence amounts to air pollution.
"This is one of the most ridiculous things the federal government has tried to do," said Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, an outspoken opponent of the fees.
EPA officials insisted Friday that the lengthy, highly technical report, which mostly focuses on other sources of air pollution, does not include a proposal to tax livestock.
But the American Farm Bureau Federation said, based on federal agriculture department figures, it would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog.
The executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, Ken Hamilton, estimated the fee would cost owners of a modest-sized cattle ranch $30,000 to $40,000 a year. He said he has talked to a number of livestock owners about the proposals, and ``all have said if the fees were carried out, it would bankrupt them."
Sparks said Wednesday he's worried the fee could be extended to chickens and other farm animals and cause more meat to be imported.
"We'll let other countries put food on our tables like they are putting gas in our cars. Other countries don't have the health standards we have," Sparks said.
The farm groups say the fee would apply to farms with livestock operations that emit more than 90 tonnes of carbon emissions in a year and fall under federal Clean Air Act provisions.
EPA officials said the agency has not taken a position on any of the matters discussed in its response to the Supreme Court ruling. And John Millett, a spokesman for EPA's air and radiation division, said there has been an oversimplification of the EPA's document "to the point of distortion."
"EPA is not proposing any type of tax on livestock," he said.
American Farm Bureau Federation officials did not immediately respond to the EPA statement Friday.
But farmers from across the country have expressed outrage over the EPA report, both on Internet sites and in opinions sent to EPA during a public comment period that ended last week. Many call it a ``cow tax" and say the EPA proposed it.
"It's something that really has a very big potential adverse impact for the livestock industry," said Rick Krause, the senior director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The fee would cover the cost of a permit for the livestock operations. While farmers say it would drive them out of business, an organization supporting the proposal hopes it forces the farms and ranches to switch to healthier crops.
"It makes perfect sense if you are looking for ways to cut down on meat consumption and recoup environmental losses," said Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman in Washington for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
"We certainly support making factory farms pay their fair share," he said.
Just another way to suck money out of our pockets. You and I are next, since we also pass gas. (I have a friend who should be taxed MUCH more than most people...)
How exactly would you do that? Put a meter up there?
Boy if the Dems start taxing farting, I’m in trouble.
Eat mo chik’n
“I have a friend who should be taxed MUCH more than most people...”
Don’t we all?
America is being morphed into France and Americans are voting for it. God help us.
$87.50/head on beef cattle would put many ranchers out of business and drive the cost of beef sky high. That would be a win/win for the envirowackos.
The FART tax...good gief...
The temperature prediction for the year 2009-10 is forecast at much lower temps, how do these lefties get away with these lies? Al Gore is a moron but then so are all Democrats. This is nothing more than extortion.
Fresh
Air
Resources
Tax
Gosh almighty...
Doesn’t a bunch of politicians taxing a stinking A-hole seem kind of self loathing?
I am told that right now they are not making a heck of a lot of profit on calf or cow. This tax would eat a significant portion of that profit up. If it goes through, look for small family operators to fold and ag land to convert.
AMerican farmers need to lobby Congress for a subsidy to buy commercial size BEAN-O.
Everyone else seems to be pulling a subsidy out of their ...er... donkey.
ComputerGuy,
You sure look young in those photos.
I lived at Ft. Myers and worked the Pentagon for two years. Loved playing in D.C. and have gone back many times to play tourist.
How did you like it there?
I bet you could write lots of books?
The EPA is completely in the hands of crackpots. Just move the head office to a funny farm, and let lunatics party. Any nation that gives up control to bureaucratic fools deserves to fall, and the EPA is going to kick us over the cliff.
A few things to ponder:
1. Do dairy cows fart more than beef cattle, or is the reasoning because milk causes people to fart more? If the latter is true, look for taxes on beans, whole wheat, cabbage, broccoli and other foods in the future.
2. Being Native American, will some bison be tax exempt?
3. It could be a strategic defense move to reduce the number of cattle and increase the number of hogs, for obvious deterrent reasons. However, how do goats and sheep factor into the equation?
4. Will there be any exemptions grandfathered in, like an “old fart’s waiver”?
5. Giving the government more money will probably increase pollutant emissions in the D.C. area.
As opposed to the non-flatulent cows.
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