Dec 08 2008
Flat Tax for Gassy Farm Animals
I thought this was a joke, but alas, no. Just when you think things can’t get any worse for American farmers, someone gets the brilliant idea to start taxing farmers based on how gassy their animals are (thank you, bored people at the EPA). The three top gassy animal offenders are:
- Milk Cows $175 per animal
- Beef Cattle $87.50
- Pigs $20 and up
Pardon my sarcasm, but since I’m a farmer I find this latest push for legislation ridiculous at best. What is next, legislating the size and quantity of other waste products? I think these green happy people need a reality check. Do they not realize how many wild animals are out there, happily passing gas? Need I mention other large animals, such as deer, moose, and bears? If we start to legislate these animals, will we eventually legislate other animals, such as sheep, chickens and the barn cats? More importantly, who is taking the time to monitor the gas emissions of farm animals anyway, and how do you get a job like that?!
Take the following statistics regarding farmers in New York State :
“Saratoga County has about 15,000 dairy cows. Rensselaer County has approximately 10,000 dairy cows. And there are 627,000 statewide. The tax on beef cattle and hogs would be $87.50 and more than $20 per animal, respectively. Any operation with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs would have to obtain a permit, the same as factories and heavy industry.”
If you think dairy products are expensive now, just imagine what they’ll be like with a this tax placed on farmers who barely make a living now. If you think knocking farmers out of business is a brilliant idea, you have no idea how expensive imports are going to be.
If you’d like to get in on complaining about this bureaucratic nightmare, visit http://www.nyfb.org before December 12, 2008.
~~Charlotte
