New Zealand to tax farmers for cow farts?

gspren · October 12, 2022, 06:18:50 PM

I actually saw this on the news, @Ianab tell me it isn't so!

21incher · October 12, 2022, 07:30:08 PM

The US also from the last Green Deal details.

Ianab · October 12, 2022, 09:08:33 PM

It's been announced, but not coming into effect until 2025. Fair chance of a change in Govt before then as the most obvious effect will be to put up food prices, which are already a sore point with the general public.

Southside · October 12, 2022, 11:24:23 PM

The government officials actually said this was a positive move for the farmers and they will "simply pass the cost along".

SwampDonkey · October 13, 2022, 03:33:50 AM

They've never sold farm goods. They have this idea that little farm markets with prices on the bags is the same as someone producing huge volumes on contract. If you sold potatoes to the public out of your potato shed, you might sell a pallet load of 50 lb bags a year at your price. What do you do with 800 acres worth? :D

Southside · October 13, 2022, 07:22:13 AM

They know. They just don't care.

kantuckid · October 13, 2022, 08:34:11 AM

This kind of reminds me of Kansas in the 1960's when talk of "cow counting" became a reality. Prior to then the PVA's didn't go to an owners fields and count their livestock.

Don P · October 13, 2022, 03:59:18 PM

I've heard this one about annually for the past 20 or so years :

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A mouthful of kelp per day in their feed and cows don't fart. Dodged the bullet again :D

SwampDonkey · October 13, 2022, 04:46:16 PM

Up here in NB we eat it. I don't think it helps. :D They harvest it on Grand Manan Is, dry and salt it and sell it as dulce. One of them niche things. ;D They harvest 500 tons annually I think.

21incher · October 13, 2022, 07:31:31 PM

Why not just catch it, store it and run cars on the methane. We need Green Fart Cars.

Southside · October 13, 2022, 07:35:47 PM

Believe it or not there is a cow methane mask out there.

Don P · October 13, 2022, 07:49:27 PM

I'd hate to be the one fitting a cow with that.

Nebraska · October 13, 2022, 09:21:52 PM

I hope they don't make them prescription.... :

Southside · October 13, 2022, 10:23:48 PM

You watch California will adopt a mandate all beef and dairy sold in the state must use them, just like their pork rules.

rjwoelk · October 14, 2022, 12:03:06 AM

Up here in Canada the libs are talking the same stupidity. We will be rid of them in 3 years, hopefully .

kantuckid · October 14, 2022, 07:50:36 AM

Quote from: Nebraska on October 13, 2022, 09:21:52 PM
I hope they don't make them prescription.... :

AI is known for cow farts? ;D

K-Guy · October 17, 2022, 11:41:12 AM

Get a petition started mandating that these same taxes apply to the bull being put out by politicians and see how fast it goes away. smiley_jester

Don P · October 17, 2022, 12:03:05 PM

Here's a short article that describes what I remember on seaweed and cows. I'm not sure if that research went anywhere or not, I was hearing about seaweed when Michelle was at State in the early 80's.

Of All Things, Seaweed Could Drastically Reduce Cow Farts and Burps - Modern Farmer

Southside · October 17, 2022, 12:57:26 PM

One has to ask, how much energy / bad gas of the day, is used to harvest, transport, and feed that seaweed.

Don P · October 17, 2022, 03:47:22 PM

Whose cows have upset tummies?

Under an entry for "alge" in 1875. I've heard old timers call cress, dulse. The first entry is the only one to mention cows, the rest was just interesting.

Sedgehammer · February 03, 2023, 06:25:59 PM

I've had seaweed myself, once. Not again

With cows and today's total mixed rations, you can almost feed them anything, but it reduces intake if there's enough and they don't like it

As too what Southside mentioned, that'll never be figured in and it's total bs to begin with. Climate has been changing for eons. There's proof it's warmed faster and hotter long before they're were SUVs and dairy farms

Ron Wenrich · February 04, 2023, 07:04:29 AM

Just remember, first the cows, the next will be you. They'll ban chili, beer and onion rings.

Don P · February 04, 2023, 07:17:03 AM

Quote from: Don P on October 17, 2022, 03:47:22 PMWhose cows have upset tummies?

Quote from: Sedgehammer on February 03, 2023, 06:25:59 PMWith cows and today's total mixed rations, you can almost feed them anything, but it reduces intake if there's enough and they don't like it

I dunno, is stuff that hard to figure out :D

Sedgehammer · February 04, 2023, 04:15:47 PM

@Don P actually can be. Small differences are hard to tell due to do many variables. Big changes, sure. We had one of the highest producing herds in the world. I did it for years

Ianab · February 04, 2023, 10:54:59 PM

Quote from: Sedgehammer on February 04, 2023, 04:15:47 PM
Small differences are hard to tell due to do many variables. Big changes, sure. We had one of the highest producing herds in the world. I did it for years

For sure. Also, if a cow is burping excess methane that suggests it's not digesting it's food as efficiently as possible, and is leaving production to waft away.
Ironically NZ currently has a CO2 shortage :

The local oil refinery used to produce industrial / food grade CO2 as a byproduct of refining crude, but that's been shut down. The other supplier was the local natural gas field, but they had a breakdown with the processing plant. Then you find out how many commercial operations actually used CO2. Worst hit was the smaller breweries and taverns that need CO2 to produce and serve beer. Ironically brewing beer produces a lot of CO2, but unless you have a very expensive machine to capture it, it just blows away. Large commercial breweries have the equipment to capture and reuse it already, but it's expensive for a small operation.
https://www.beerandbrewer.com/kiwi-brewery-harnesses-carbon-capture-technology/