CNN iReport

I heard about this on the radio this morning and couldn't believe my ears.  The EPA is proposing creating a tax for cow owners.  Why? Because apparently the methane gas released in a cow's fart is dangerous to the environment.

Now granted, I've never heard of a barn exploding because someone lit a match at the wrong time.  Nor have I ever heard of someone dying from suffocation in a barn.  Come to think of it I've never even heard of a cow exploding due to a nearby lightning strike or similar catalyst igniting this dangerous amount of methane they produce.

Regardless, the wise and powerful EPA has decided to propose a tax of $175.00 per dairy cow for any cow owner.  Other livestock costs would vary (yea they're not just taxing cows). 

While I'm not a farmer, I grew up in a rural area and know many farmers.  I also know that the average small dairy farm needs at least 75 - 100 cows to produce enough to even think about surviving as a business.  That means the EPA wants to tax Dairy Farmers roughly $17,500 or more just to exist.

In the 1980's we lost a lot of small farms b/c the farmers simply couldn't make enough money to pay the bills here in Upstate NY.  Back before they all went out there were dozens of farms around each town, now there are a handful left at best.  This sort of tax would destroy them, as it is many of them can't afford health care, new equipment, repairs to their facilities, or hired help so they can even just take a weekend off.

Think the price of milk's to high already? Wait until we have to import all our milk because the EPA taxed our farms out of business.

Its this sort of absurdity that gives Environmental Protection a bad name.

More info: http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_345040107.html