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December 10, 2008

Schumer fights against 'cow tax"

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer says a potential "cow tax" could severely hurt dairy farmers in New York state.

"This goes in the category of you can't believe this,'" Schumer said.

"This will impact New York from one end to the other."

The "cow tax" would be a fee imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency in order to combat methane emissions from dairy and beef cows.

The fee would be about $175 per dairy cow and about $87.50 per beef cow each year.

A dairy farm with 400 cows would expect to pay about $70,000 a year for this fee.

In all, New York farms could lose about $120 million per year.

"This charge would be devastating to our farmers," Schumer said, adding that many would probably go out of business.

The fee idea is misguided, he said.

"This is not for permits for burning "¦ this is for methane emissions for cows when they belch. Cows can't change the way they are."

The EPA is toying with the idea of implementing the fee, and Schumer says the time to strike it down is now.

"This is an unfair tax on the already beleaguered dairy and cattle farmers."

If the tax is installed, Schumer said, consumers can expect to pay more for dairy and beef products.

"This is such an absurd proposal we have to put a stake through its heart immediately."

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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