I initially herd (you will understand later) about an EPA ruling that animal flatulence, that is farting to you folks in Northwest Louisiana and Northeast Texas, is a major pollutant and therefore subject to a greenhouse gas emissions tax. EPA's Air Pollution Target.
EPA officials deny that a farting tax on animals is in the works. John Millett, a spokesman for EPA's air and radiation division said, "EPA is not proposing any type of tax on livestock..." Riiiight, your government would never lie to you or attempt to cover you with fertilizer straight from the bull.
Would it?
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.
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.
