New Zealand proposes taxing cow burps, angering farmers

[edwest4]

Well, if they could just harness those cow burps and use the energy. An interesting engineering problem.

New Zealand proposes taxing cow burps, angering farmers

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's government on Tuesday proposed taxing the greenhouse gasses that farm animals make from burping and peeing as part of a plan to tackle climate change. The government said the farm levy would be a world first, and that farmers should be able to recoup...

apnews.com

 

[GTX]

Here is a link to what is actually going on rather than a simplistic, click bait article:

Climate change and the primary industries | NZ Government

Climate change affects all producers (farmers, growers, foresters, fishers), the communities that support them, and the broader New Zealand economy. Find out about climate change and the actions the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is taking.

www.mpi.govt.nz

You will note that one of the things they point out is that "Agriculture and livestock produce about half of New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions", so in trying to address the overall problem they can't ignore this and have to do something. They also recognise that "New Zealand's economy relies on our environment and the primary production it supports, like farming, forestry, and fishing." so are actually also at great risk to potential climate changes resulting from environmental degradation. This is also part of a broader plan addressing multiple aspects not just simplistic changes such as that article would suggest.

 

[Nik]

IIRC, there's been much good work done on how comparatively small changes to animal nutrition can mitigate 'farts' and waste disposal.

Bit like 'field beans' / 'baked beans': IIRC, some cultivars are notoriously 'methanogenic', others much less so. Snag, as I understand it, is the latter are less resilient / crop lighter etc etc...

 

[GTX]

IIRC, there's been much good work done on how comparatively small changes to animal nutrition can mitigate 'farts' and waste disposal.

Such as this:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/from-beaches-to-burps-native-australian-seaweed-key-to-reducing-methane-emissions-from-cows

 

[edwest4]

Science to the rescue.

On New Zealand farm, scientists reduce cow burps with an eye on global warming

Farmers, businesses and scientists are working on ways to cut emissions without reducing herd number. Agricultural products make up more than 75% of the country’s goods exports.

www.nbcnews.com