Farmers Panic About a ‘Cow Tax’ [greenhouse gas regulation......]

New York Times ^

[Sub-Driver]

Farmers Panic About a ‘Cow Tax’ By Kate Galbraith Should their greenhouse gases be taxed? (Photo: Steve Ruark for The New York Times)

The comment period for the Environmental Protection Agency’s exploration of greenhouse gas regulation ended last Friday, with farmers lobbying furiously against the notion of a “cow tax” on methane, a potent greenhouse gas emitted by livestock.

The New York Farm Bureau issued a statement last week (PDF) saying it feared that a tax could reach $175 per cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and upward of $20 for each hog.

Such a tax would represent a “massive hit on our industry here in New York,” said Peter Gregg, a spokesman for the farm bureau, in an interview.

“You could take all of our cows together and they probably wouldn’t have the same effect on the atmosphere than the average traffic jam on the Tappan Zee Bridge,” he added.

Farm officials from Texas to Alabama also sounded the alarm, and Mr. Gregg said that the response in New York among farmers was “almost a panic.”

The hysteria may be premature, however. The E.P.A. indeed issued an “advanced notice of proposed rulemaking” this summer that called for public comments on the idea of regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars, as well as “stationary sources” — which, yes, would include cows and other livestock.

[ElZorroKTX]

I think we will probably see a tax on BEANS also! We will all have to pay $5.00 per month bean tax! That should raise some revenue.

[AFreeBird]

Well, well. we might as well outlaw mexican food too. And Texas chili. Any foods that cause gas. After all, 6+ Billion people passing gas is not good for the environment and greenhouse gas levels.

[Myrddin]

Taxing livestock is really anti-human. High taxes would induce farmers to exit the market, thereby pushing livestock production lower. The end result would be less meat available at higher prices.

Environmentalism is really just a code word for anti-human, anti-capitalist. The "environment" is a slick excuse to cover the real intent.

[sickoflibs]

The nice thing about food prices going up before was democrats could blame GWB, even though Ethanol mandates , a deal he cut with democrats, were involved.

Better Obama raise taxes as McCain, and many here supported McCain who promised the same.

[Cloverfarm]

DH the farmer did the math from what we saw on some ag sites. Operations with more than 25 head of dairy cattle or 50 head of beef cattle would be above the thresh hold to pay the tax based on what we saw.

Those are hobby size herds, folks. We know b/c we have that many beef cattle just to eat up hay that we can’t sell to horse owners.

In this area the average size dairy herd is about 300 head. The biggest herd in the area is about 3,000 head and is not unusual in the industry.

[Condor51]

I hate New York.

If the New York Farm Bureau is so concerned about cow farts why don't they just get in their State Helicopters and fly from farm to farm wiping out the cow herds with M134 Miniguns.

That'll solve the cow fart problem real quick.

STOO-PID^™ #&%*ing liberal tax-freak eco-nazis

[ebiskit]

A Fart Tax?!?

I can just smell the T-shirt fortune with this one.

What if I eat a lot of beans?!? For every can of pintos, tro Uncle Sam 5 extra bux?

Aren’t Mexicans (beaners) unduly harmed by such a tax?

tehDeetz

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I would like to know who is going to pay the “gas tax” for all of the cows in India? Perhaps PETA is up to the task?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is basically a tax on breathing... breathing cows, but breathing nonetheless.

Next they'll be taxing US for breathing.

A bureaucrat's dream!

[Mr. Lucky]

Cattle are ruminants. It’s the burps, not the farts.

[Zeppelin]

Hell, why don’t we just tax human beings for breathing, too. After all, by decree of the EPA, carbon-dioxide - and therefore exhaling, and therefore actual people, are pollutants. We should tax people for just being alive. That will save the planet!

CO2 is a pollunt...yeah...

Let's counter with similar logic...

Who are we to deny plants the precious carbon dioxide they need to live and thrive?!? I say "SAVE THE PLANTS! DRIVE A HUMMER!"

[Twinkie]

Ha. They already do tax us human beings.

[IYAS9YAS]

If D.C. implements a “Cow Tax” then the farmers ought to implement a “D.C. Fee” and quintuple the cost of beef/dairy going into/around D.C.

[IYAS9YAS]

If D.C. implements a “Cow Tax” then the farmers ought to implement a “D.C. Fee” and quintuple the cost of beef/dairy going into/around D.C.

Oops, should have read the article in full. Same goes for NY state.

[OB1kNOb]

If the government ever passes a “stupidity” tax they’ll have neverending revenue sources from liberals.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

They forget about those poor people in the inner city
that can not have a cow, so part of the tax money must
go to them to be fair./S

[Zeppelin]

After all, 6+ Billion people passing gas is not good for the environment and greenhouse gas levels.

You can make that 5,999,999,999.

President Obama farts pure O3 ozone.

[CrazyIvan]

What about horses? And Zoo animals.....elephants are many times bigger than cows are.

Does this mean that the people promoting the recovery of buffalo herds will have to pay per head also?

[RedMonqey]

If the New York Farm Bureau is so concerned about cow farts

The New York Farm Bureau is AGAINST the "fart tax"

[makoman]

They will have to attach a fart meter to every bovine? or is that a smart feller?