The Flatulence Tax

One third of the world's human-made green house gas emissions come from food and agriculture.*

Determining the precise level of emissions from food and agriculture is tough, but by one count as much as 31% of GHG emissions can be attributed to food and agriculture, including emissions from land-use changes such as deforestation to make way for pasture-raising livestock or growing feed for livestock or biofuels. Note that this estimate does not include emissions from food transportation, waste, or manufacturing.*

Argentina is studying climate change. They have outfitted dairy cattle (Reuters: http://tinyurl.com/l8wqef ) to be measured for methane output…primarily as it relates to burping (which, according to them is more potent than cow flatulence). Having been around cattle, I beg to differ but then again, I'm not a scientist.

So, in addition to installing compact fluorescent bulbs, reducing the miles you drive, and planting a dozen trees, you must now consider the food you eat as part of the solution to reducing green house gas. Take-A-Bite (http://www.takeabite.cc/) indicates that choosing organic food and fresh produce will help save our planet. According to them, our mothers had profound insight when they told us to clean our plate because it will keep scraps from ending up in a landfill (thus producing methane gas).

What does this have to do with Nebraska and agriculture? Well, if electric-generating plants need to purchase carbon offsets so might ranchers and dairy operators who maintain large cattle herds (and who gets to define "large"). Isn't it difficult enough to raise cattle and make a living? Imagine an estimate of "flatulence by cow", multiplied by your herd, and then assigned an offset requirement? Farmers and ranchers will be competing with huge cattle companies to purchase/bid on these offsets. One more hoop to jump through, one more dollar out of your pocket, and one more line on your operating expense report. How much is "Beano" by the pallet, anyway?

I was going to ponder this more but instead I think I'll find out how they tie those plastic tanks on the cows.

Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District

*Source: Data from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Third Assessment Report.