The answer: 200 hogs, 50 beef cattle or 25 dairy cattle.

The question: How many of the above animals release enough methane each year through farting and burping so as to trigger a sizable per-animal fee under proposed Clean Air Act regulations aimed at stemming greenhouse gas emissions?

The proposed EPA regulations, which President-elect Barack Obama's advisers have indicated the agency will move forward on, would require businesses to obtain permits in order to emit more than 100 tons of a pollutant per year. And yes, it only takes 25 gassy dairy cattle to hit that threshold in a given year.

Farmers are understandably irked at the prospect of having to obtain a permit for their animal emissions similar to those required of municipal waste incinerators, chemical manufacturers and cement factories. In an industry with ever-shrinking margins, the proposed tax is a hefty one: $175 per cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and upwards of $20 per hog.

Since the 490-plus-page EPA notice was published last summer, the agency has received more than 100,000 responses, many from angry farm bureaus. "The permit would effectively be a massive new tax on our farm animals," said New York Farm Bureau President John Lincoln, who estimates that the tax would cost New York farmers alone more than $110 million per year.

We're not saying the EPA should look to nix the cow tax idea entirely, but it may behoove them to paint with some less broad strokes when it comes to assessing fees on various industries. Farmers don't deserve to be exempt here, but less stringency may be in order.

Comments (5)

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written by Martin K., November 29, 2008

Yet another piece of legislation wrapped in "good intentions" but teeming with "bad side-effects". Between this and corn subsidies, most of which go to millionaires, you can kiss the family farm goodbye.

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written by IamIan, November 30, 2008

I like this idea... it will help the small farm... only farms with more than 25+ dairy cows will be effected... besides... like it or not... the meat industry is extremely energy intensive compared to plant based foods.

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written by MarkR, December 01, 2008

What the? Along with the stupidity of recycling the x Clinton staff. This is down right moronic. If this were to get approved, say hello to cheaper imported mad cow laden beef, and shipping more jobs over seas. As some one who grew up on a 150 ac farm with 50 head of cattle. This is the kind of tax on the lower middle class that's not needed and not wanted. Obama sux, Thanks for the effen middle class tax increase lazy a$$ liberal dorks.

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If only EPA really proposed a cow tax...
written by fact checker, December 08, 2008

The facts...
EPA is not proposing a cow tax. The document that was released by EPA is a thought piece and doesn't even say anyhting about a cow tax or livestock tax. The stories that are being generated on this are the result of comments USDA provided on what EPA put out, not EPA proposals. Ask USDA about the cow tax, they are the ones who brought it up.
Checkout www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr to read for yourself and discover the real truth on the cow tax.