Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 01/14/2009 10:05:09 AM PST by Coleus
It turns out "going green" may mean cutting back on those juicy steaks and burgers. The reason: Cattle and other livestock expel tons of methane gas, which wreaks havoc on the environment. The issue has become so heated, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed taxing cows as a way to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act -- a suggestion that rankles dairy and cattle farmers.
Pete Staats, whose family has owned Dutch Hollow Farms in Bridgewater for several generations, thinks taxing cows is just plain strange and could put farmers out of business. "I think it's pretty stupid," said Staats, who owns about 40 beef cattle on his Somerset County farm. "If you're going to tax the cows, then you're going to tax the deer, then you're going to tax the geese. It's just ridiculous."
According to the EPA, the gas that leaks from volcanoes and millions of cows and livestock is, pound for pound, about 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Under the EPA proposal, the permit costs potentially translate into $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 a head for beef cattle and $20 per hog, according to Liz Thompson, a research associate with the New Jersey Farm Bureau. A herd of 75 dairy cows would carry a price tag exceeding $13,000.
The proposal is still in the exploratory stage. Staats, a member of the Somerset County Board of Agriculture, sees the proposal as yet another blow to the small family-owned farm. He said the effects of methane from cows is minimal, "especially at the rate we're losing farmers in this country." He said of the methane, "trapping it in some way and using it would make far more sense than putting this so-called tax on it."
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
why does the word “bureaucrap” come to mind?
Tax politicians for their oral emissions, and create a terminally stupid tax on those who vote Democrat ...
The carbon that the cows eat was extracted from the air by fertilizer factories.
I wonder which state will seceed first? Based on this I’m guessing one of the states with the most agriculture.
Cattlemen are having a tough time as it is. Add another tax on them and many will go out of business. Besides, what good will an additional tax do............get rid of the gas?
At the last Cattlemen’s meeting new geneticly improved cattle that produced less methane was introduced. (Chi cross)
I was so amused, I never asked how they knew. But at the sale of fresh heifers the going price was $5500. I just may buy a few! LOL
send them old shoes filled with cow dung.
Heres a little gift from your friendly farmer.
Wheres the beef?
“It turns out “going green” may mean cutting back on those juicy steaks and burgers. The reason: Cattle and other livestock expel tons of methane gas, which wreaks havoc on the environment. “
Why? Just eat the freakin things.
By the way, how many cows does it take to expel tons of methane gas?
"A lie will go 7 times round the world before the truth even gets its sneakers on"
I hope it is my beloved Texas, first to bail on the DC libtards and go independent.
BRANG BACK THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS !!!
But apparently if the recently-eaten carbon is re-emitted by cattle, it's cause for concern.
So which is it- do you tax the cows or the kids?
UN has long felt that we should all eat a vegan diet, could the greens be using lies about cattle carbon dioxide to push their agenda?
from the EPA site ...
“. It is estimated that 60% of global methane emissions are related to human-related activities (IPCC, 2001c). Natural sources of methane include wetlands, gas hydrates, permafrost, termites, oceans, freshwater bodies, non-wetland soils, and other sources such as wildfires.”
Note that it’s the IPCC report that is referenced, in the passive voice, for a statement about anthropogenic methane sources.
Anaerobic fermentation (and decay) are NATURAL producers of methane. I guess we gotta tax Gaeia.
The agriculture lobby is huge. THey will get extra farm subsidies to cover the carbon-cow tax. Or they will be forced to grow corn for ethanol production.
check that : anaerobic respiration, not fermentation. oops.
If farting, is a natural biological function to all living things and we want to get back to nature with the green movement - what are these cows doing that are un-natural and we need to tax the behavior?
My money is on California.
“Animal welfare issues will be very much at the forefront,” he said. “There’s no doubt that Proposition 2 was a wake-up call.”
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jan/14/agriculture-panel-changes-name-takes-on-wider/
If this happens, I may ask for asylum. Being an oppressed straight white male in CA should qualify, right?
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