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New Zealand farmers hit streets to protest cow-burp tax plan

24 Comments
By NICK PERRY

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24 Comments
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What about just teach the cows some manners? They shouldn't be farting and burping in public anyway!

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Good on the farmers.

It would be nice to see this issue as the one that brings down the government of Ardern and her bunch of socialist economic illiterates.

But even if it does, the UN will reward her treachery with a cushy job that enables her to fly around the world in the very planes that spew out the gas she wants to tax to kingdom come.

If Marie Antoinette had been a Kiwi, she might've said " Let them eat mutton".

Jacinda might just come to the same end. Figuratively, of course...

3 ( +10 / -7 )

I can see this ending Ardern.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Globalists: “Cows’ flatulence increase CO2 so we will tax those who grow cows so that they will change their business to insect farming. Insect farming will give your company tax credits and it will increase your SEG score. Beef is bad and insects are good!”

8 ( +12 / -4 )

If you're gonna tax, tax the consumers, not the producers.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

to tax cow burps and other greenhouse gas emissions

Does that mean that NZ cows live in greenhouses or even are greenhouses? lol

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I don't quite get the focus on cow burps. I know they contain a lot of methane. But if the source of their food is naturally made (e.g. growing grass), is it not carbon neutral overall? I can understand that if the food is not entirely natural (e.g. use of artificial fertilizers) then there could be an imbalance. But in that case, should the focus not be on feed-making methods rather than cow burps?

Can anyone clarify?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Just insane, trying to kill the farming industry. Go after other pollutants. Seek ways to offset the animal emissions.

But outright discouraging and stifling a major natural food industry because of the incidental emissions?

Nuts

7 ( +8 / -1 )

If you're gonna tax, tax the consumers, not the producers.

Everybody is going to be paying for it in the end anyway.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

It's the farts the problem what a misleading title

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Not a great idea. But if the Kiwi dairy and cattle farms go bankrupt, they can always join the queue and import premium Japanese Wagyu steak - and milk, cheese and cream from Hokkaido!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I can see this ending Ardern

Is this her brainchild? Seems so bad not one among her fans here it seems is even trying to defend it

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If NZ want these reductions, they need to focus on switching from animal husbandry to growing food crops, paying farmers to switch. They may be trying to manipulate them into doing this via taxes. Incentives cause less political agitation.

I suspect the NZ government have looked at their popularity figures, which are generally quite high, and so believe that they can get away with anything. That's unwise.

As climate change bites, we need to maximise global food production in places that don't impact on vulnerable parts of the environment. Too much South American rainforest is being shifted to agriculture and meat production. NZ needs to maximise food production because it can, without damaging such areas. But to reduce the global carbon footprint, it needs to shift to growing crops. And globally, like it or not, governments need to levy taxes on meat at the checkout, to reduce demand.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Is this her brainchild? Seems so bad not one among her fans here it seems is even trying to defend it

I think it’s a Green Party initiative. Not the first time it’s been put forward but seems it’s going to happen this time. Also, just in case you were wondering, I’m not an Ardern fan. She was put there by Winston Peters who went against the most popular candidate out of spite for the National party and now is very aware of his mistake. I don’t hate her as much as some but I’d never vote her into power.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If the farmers turned to growing crops, what would happen to the meat factories and exportering companies ?

There would be massive layoffs as you need less workers to process crops than animal products.

.

Also how much of the current farm land can be used for crop production ?

.

They are taxing the farmers so they can say blame the farmers for higher prices.

If they introduced a meat tax at places like shops, take aways, restraunts, etc

Then the people would see it is a direct tax from their goverment.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Laguna

If you're gonna tax, tax the consumers, not the producers.

Sure. But it's the same thing considering most of the dairy produce from cows is exported.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard! Cows (and everything else) have always burped. If methane is the 'big ish' then start feeding natural unfertilized grass w/o the pesticides that pollute. I hope the Kiwi fight this idiotic idea tooth and nail. I want to see them RESIST and SAY NO!!!!

If this is what shakes the Arden administration, Parliament, the Kiwi nation SO BE IT. If this is what it takes to get these dangerous pesticides with destructive compounds like 245-T then SO BE IT.

In any case, whoever came up with this proposal should resign effective immediately for being just too dumb to be serving in government.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Your livestock pollutes with greenhouse gases, pay your taxes..

THE END

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So they murder mammals after they destroy the worlds atmosphere, then block roads with diesel guzzling tractors that require ships to bring it all the way from the Middle East. Meat Terrorists.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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