Hanta Yo
Well-known member
Producers,
I would be very, very concerned about this. Please do your part and send in your comments!
Hanta Yo
November 25, 2008
EPA Proposes "Cow Tax"
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in preparation to regulate automobile greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. But first, in order to regulate automobile emissions, EPA has to make a finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and safety and should be classified as a pollutant.
If that happens, says Ken Hamilton, executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, "The regulation automatically initiates other provisions of the Clean Air Act. One of those provisions requires permits from anyone who emits more than 100 tons/year of a regulated pollutant, and there are millions of sources that emit more than 100 tons of carbon."
In fact, USDA says that a producer with more than 50 beef cows, 25 dairy cows or 200 hogs would emit more than 100 tons of carbon and be subject to the permitting requirements.
"These thresholds would impact 99% of dairy producers, over 90% of beef producers and 95% of hog producers in the U.S.," says Rick Krause, American Farm Bureau Federation director of regulatory relations. Under the proposal, if a state charged the "presumptive minimum rate" from EPA, the cow tax would be $87.50/head for beef cattle, $175/head for dairy cows and around $20/hog, he said.
EPA is accepting comments through November 28. For information, go to www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html. All livestock producers should take time to comment before the November 28th deadline.Source: Wyoming Farm Bureau
A Letter Regarding the Clean Air Act
Dear Cattle Producer & Farm Owner:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has on its docket a draft of Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) related to regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. This is a proposal that has slipped by most agricultural producers, however could have a huge impact on how we do business if this rule passes. The final comment period is at midnight Friday, November 28, 2008. We need to stand up to be heard and I would strongly recommend a little light reading in the next couple of days to understand the full impact.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a political activist and that is a fault of mine. I should take more interest in this kind of stuff since it directly impacts how I do business and whether the beef producers I work for will even be in business.
In short this draft is trying to measure greenhouse gas emissions, but the EPA feels that all sources need to be identified and regulated the same. To put it this way the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation and Energy submitted comments against this rule and each Secretary has some interesting summaries on the impact it will have for their industry. If this rule passes, a dairy farm with 25 cows, a beef producer with 50 cows. a hog producer with 200 pigs or a farmer with 500 acres of corn, 250 acres of soybeans, 350 acres of potatoes or only 35 acres of rice will be required to request an EPA permit to operate. The other quandary is how would an agriculture producer even begin to measure the greenhouse gases produced in an agricultural operation.
The numbers being proposed by various ag entities is that this "tax" would be the equivalent of $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 per beef cow and $20 per pig. The crop farmers would also have to pay, but a specific dollar figure has not been attached on a per acre basis. I would encourage you to visit www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html to learn more about this proposed rule. I would also encourage you to add your comments to the many already being posted.
When writing a letter, email or comment on line, refer to Docket # EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0318. At this late date I recommend email, fax or online comments. Don't forget the deadline is November 28, 2008 to comment on this proposed rule.
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 202-566-9744
Website: www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html and follow the instructions on the website.Sincerely,
Lori Maude
Gelbvieh World Editor
I would be very, very concerned about this. Please do your part and send in your comments!
Hanta Yo
November 25, 2008
EPA Proposes "Cow Tax"
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in preparation to regulate automobile greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. But first, in order to regulate automobile emissions, EPA has to make a finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and safety and should be classified as a pollutant.
If that happens, says Ken Hamilton, executive vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, "The regulation automatically initiates other provisions of the Clean Air Act. One of those provisions requires permits from anyone who emits more than 100 tons/year of a regulated pollutant, and there are millions of sources that emit more than 100 tons of carbon."
In fact, USDA says that a producer with more than 50 beef cows, 25 dairy cows or 200 hogs would emit more than 100 tons of carbon and be subject to the permitting requirements.
"These thresholds would impact 99% of dairy producers, over 90% of beef producers and 95% of hog producers in the U.S.," says Rick Krause, American Farm Bureau Federation director of regulatory relations. Under the proposal, if a state charged the "presumptive minimum rate" from EPA, the cow tax would be $87.50/head for beef cattle, $175/head for dairy cows and around $20/hog, he said.
EPA is accepting comments through November 28. For information, go to www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html. All livestock producers should take time to comment before the November 28th deadline.Source: Wyoming Farm Bureau
A Letter Regarding the Clean Air Act
Dear Cattle Producer & Farm Owner:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has on its docket a draft of Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) related to regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. This is a proposal that has slipped by most agricultural producers, however could have a huge impact on how we do business if this rule passes. The final comment period is at midnight Friday, November 28, 2008. We need to stand up to be heard and I would strongly recommend a little light reading in the next couple of days to understand the full impact.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a political activist and that is a fault of mine. I should take more interest in this kind of stuff since it directly impacts how I do business and whether the beef producers I work for will even be in business.
In short this draft is trying to measure greenhouse gas emissions, but the EPA feels that all sources need to be identified and regulated the same. To put it this way the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation and Energy submitted comments against this rule and each Secretary has some interesting summaries on the impact it will have for their industry. If this rule passes, a dairy farm with 25 cows, a beef producer with 50 cows. a hog producer with 200 pigs or a farmer with 500 acres of corn, 250 acres of soybeans, 350 acres of potatoes or only 35 acres of rice will be required to request an EPA permit to operate. The other quandary is how would an agriculture producer even begin to measure the greenhouse gases produced in an agricultural operation.
The numbers being proposed by various ag entities is that this "tax" would be the equivalent of $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 per beef cow and $20 per pig. The crop farmers would also have to pay, but a specific dollar figure has not been attached on a per acre basis. I would encourage you to visit www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html to learn more about this proposed rule. I would also encourage you to add your comments to the many already being posted.
When writing a letter, email or comment on line, refer to Docket # EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0318. At this late date I recommend email, fax or online comments. Don't forget the deadline is November 28, 2008 to comment on this proposed rule.
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 202-566-9744
Website: www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html and follow the instructions on the website.Sincerely,
Lori Maude
Gelbvieh World Editor