EPA Trying to Tax Livestock Producers for Greenhouse Gas

[Auburn_Ag]

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November 26, 2008 Email to Friend

SPARKS VOICES OPPOSITION TO EPA LIVESTOCK FEE PROPOSAL Darryal Ray
(334) 613-4187
November 26, 2008


MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Ron Sparks, commissioner of Alabama's Department of Agriculture and Industries, has criticized a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to charge mandatory permit fees in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The EPA would, in effect, put our livestock producers and dairy farmers out of business," said Sparks. "At a time when we are becoming more and more reliant on other countries for our food, we should be looking for ways to help farmers, not punish them for producing the food we put on the table for our families."

The proposal would affect any farm or ranch with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs by requiring permit fees based on tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions, which is based on emitting 100 tons or more of carbon per year.

According to the American Farm Bureau, the fee and/or tax would result in about $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog annually.

Sparks, who is president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), also stated that NASDA will be submitting comments to the EPA opposing this proposal. The commissioner also urges all producers to make a public response at http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/howto/index.html to the EPA by the Nov. 28, 2008 deadline.

Producers can also voice their opposition by visiting the Action Alert area of http://www.AlfaFarmers.org.


Here is the source
http://www.alfafarmers.org/headlines/he ... ml?id=5409

 

[bigbull338]

the BBU sent me the big long letter about what the EPA wants todo.an i know if it passes it will kill or cripple the ag industy in the US.because no 1 can pay the taxes/fines they are proposing.

 

[Brandonm22]

I got an email from the Alabama Cattleman's Assn recently disputing the suggestion that this is even in the works. This "COULD" be a hoax. More likely it is a trial balloon somebody put out to see what (if any) reaction it would receive.

http://www.bamabeef.org/Chicken%20Littl ... %20Tax.pdf

"For Immediate Release December 1, 2008
Contact: Dr. Billy Powell, ACA Executive Vice President (334) 265-1867
Chicken Little and the "Cow Tax"
Following a week's worth of speculation and a media frenzy on a
proposed "cow tax" in the form of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
sanctions, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association is urging cattlemen in Alabama
to address the issue with calm after hearing all the facts.
The issue of a proposed "cow tax" seems to have originated in a press
release dated November 20th from the American Farm Bureau Federation
(AFBF). In a non-sourced citation from USDA, AFBF Executive Director of Public
Policy Mark Maslyn claims that fees proposed by EPA on farmers could total
$87.50 per beef cow. Following an in depth search, this seems to be the only
record of that figure. Nowhere in EPA's official submittal to the Federal Register
was this figure found.
In that advanced notice for proposed rulemaking (ANPR) which suggests
proposing to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act, EPA
Administrator Stephen Johnson requested public comment and input before any
decisions or policy recommendations are made. "None of the views or
alternatives raised in this notice represents Agency decisions or policy
recommendations. It is premature to do so," stated Johnson.
Following Administrator Johnson's request, USDA Ag Secretary Edward
T. Schafer submitted comments harshly criticizing the proposal and citing its
potential for negative impact on the nation's agriculture industry. Speaking of
America's small family farms, Schafer stated, "These operations simply could not
bear the regulatory compliance costs that would be invoked."
Even then, no official mention of a "cow tax" was mentioned. So, what
can be gathered from these official records?
"Cattle producers should stop for a minute and consider the facts in this
case. We've seen a lot of undue hysteria among our producers because of a
simple news release looking to sensationalize a story. The Alabama Cattlemen's
Association (ACA) as well as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association have
both commented to EPA that we oppose regulating GHGs under the Clean Air
Act. However, we're not willing to spread a rumor that will cause undue public
outcry. Our stance has always been to base our policies on science and
documented facts; neither of which seems to be the basis for this scare over a
"cow tax". Further, we think it counts as extremely irresponsible and reckless
behavior among several industry organizations to cause undue duress and alarm
among cattlemen in this state by propagating this rumor", says ACA Executive
Vice President Dr. Billy Powell.
###"

 

[GMN]

the BBU sent me the big long letter about what the EPA wants todo.an i know if it passes it will kill or cripple the ag industy in the US.because no 1 can pay the taxes/fines they are proposing.

I agree 100%, this could put alot of small daires out of business, I think these big executives are pretty much clueless as to how a dairy even runs, and how we are already underpaid with how much we are getting paid vs. how much it costs to produce the milk. Throw in all the other high costs, sometimes makes me wonder how the smaller dairies can hang in there.(me included)

GMN

 

[CKC1586]

check this out:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cow_calf_c ... tId=282039

 

[GMN]

check this out:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cow_calf_c ... tId=282039

Fieldman sent me a arcticle on this, as of 12-18 this idea was axed ( I'm thinking like no DAH!)

GMN

 

[VanC]

check this out:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cow_calf_c ... tId=282039

Interesting read. Thanks.