Richard Doolittle
Well-known member
Livestock emissions could cost ranchers
Sen. Thune works to block possible EPA penalty
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff | Friday, December 12, 2008
Sen. John Thune is preparing legislation to exempt agriculture operations from provisions of the Clean Air Act, a move that would assure the Environmental Protection Agency couldn't try to tax livestock for greenhouse-gas emissions.
The so-called "cattle tax" is at this point a somewhat-strange possibility being discussed by the EPA. But even talk of taxing waste-gas emissions from cattle and other livestock stirred up concern among some South Dakota livestock producers.
"If they're looking for a way to put cattlemen out of business, that's the way to go about it," Midland rancher Scott Jones said Thursday evening. "We're not even at break even right now."
Jones recently ended a term as president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association but first signed a letter from the group to EPA opposing the use of the Clean Air Act to regulate livestock production and other agriculture practices. The association has joined the American Farm Bureau in opposing any such use of the act, which the associations say could have a devastating impact on farms and ranches.
Depending on how the rule was designed and applied, it could impose a per-head fee of almost $90 on beef cattle in herds of 50 or more, and charge dairy producers up to $175 a head, beginning with 25 cows, Thune said. Owners of hogs in herds of 200 or more could be taxed at $20 a head.
The discussion comes after a ruling in a lawsuit by Massachusetts last year that compelled the EPA to begin developing rules that would use the Clean Air Act to control greenhouse gases. EPA drew up proposed rules that could do that.
Thune, R-S.D. wants to head off any possibility that livestock and crop production could be affected by new EPA rules. His proposal, which could be introduced as early as today, would make it clear that agriculture operations would be exempt from provisions of the Clean Air Act.
"I don't think these proposed rules regulating farms and ranches are a good idea," Thune said Thursday during a conference call with reporters. "I think they need to be stopped in their tracks before they take on a life of their own."
Thune said even small- to medium-sized farms and ranches would be affected by the tax. He expects strong support in opposing the idea from people who understand agriculture and the harmful effect such a fee could have on livestock and grain operations.
"I would think you'd have a lot of support from senators who represent the heartland," he said.
Thune already has a seemingly unexpected ally from well beyond the heartland, however. Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has called the idea of the tax "absurd" and called on the EPA to stop any further consideration of the rule.
Sen. Thune works to block possible EPA penalty
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff | Friday, December 12, 2008
Sen. John Thune is preparing legislation to exempt agriculture operations from provisions of the Clean Air Act, a move that would assure the Environmental Protection Agency couldn't try to tax livestock for greenhouse-gas emissions.
The so-called "cattle tax" is at this point a somewhat-strange possibility being discussed by the EPA. But even talk of taxing waste-gas emissions from cattle and other livestock stirred up concern among some South Dakota livestock producers.
"If they're looking for a way to put cattlemen out of business, that's the way to go about it," Midland rancher Scott Jones said Thursday evening. "We're not even at break even right now."
Jones recently ended a term as president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association but first signed a letter from the group to EPA opposing the use of the Clean Air Act to regulate livestock production and other agriculture practices. The association has joined the American Farm Bureau in opposing any such use of the act, which the associations say could have a devastating impact on farms and ranches.
Depending on how the rule was designed and applied, it could impose a per-head fee of almost $90 on beef cattle in herds of 50 or more, and charge dairy producers up to $175 a head, beginning with 25 cows, Thune said. Owners of hogs in herds of 200 or more could be taxed at $20 a head.
The discussion comes after a ruling in a lawsuit by Massachusetts last year that compelled the EPA to begin developing rules that would use the Clean Air Act to control greenhouse gases. EPA drew up proposed rules that could do that.
Thune, R-S.D. wants to head off any possibility that livestock and crop production could be affected by new EPA rules. His proposal, which could be introduced as early as today, would make it clear that agriculture operations would be exempt from provisions of the Clean Air Act.
"I don't think these proposed rules regulating farms and ranches are a good idea," Thune said Thursday during a conference call with reporters. "I think they need to be stopped in their tracks before they take on a life of their own."
Thune said even small- to medium-sized farms and ranches would be affected by the tax. He expects strong support in opposing the idea from people who understand agriculture and the harmful effect such a fee could have on livestock and grain operations.
"I would think you'd have a lot of support from senators who represent the heartland," he said.
Thune already has a seemingly unexpected ally from well beyond the heartland, however. Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has called the idea of the tax "absurd" and called on the EPA to stop any further consideration of the rule.