ash_274 t1_irvrkp3 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:34 PM

So, change the feed to one that produces less methane in the digestive process?

No, just tax it to make it more expensive. Except that while that may reduce some demand, it can also just raise the price to the point where imported beef is less expensive, so they end up raising the same quantity of cows on a global level, but the New Zealand ranchers and processors aren’t getting the business; and more energy is used and more emissions are generated to import it.

Then, as there is less and less domestic beef production, the lower and lower tax generation from it and the government has to keep raising the taxes to maintain the expected revenue and it creates a feedback loop that accelerates the offshoring of the industry.

The_Figaro t1_irw994l wrote on October 11, 2022 at 2:50 PM

Just for context. This is mostly addressing dairy cows not beef, but they are included too. Also all cows in nz are grass fed only. Other than supplemental feed e.g. seaweed I would be very surprised if changes to the feed were the outcome in nz.

ash_274 t1_irwxptm wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:31 PM

They could add a supplement that potentially would cut down on the methane

The_Figaro t1_irx6w74 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Isn't that exactly what I said?

ruffmaestro t1_irvs88q wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:40 PM

Do you not think that taxing the emissions would encourage the New Zealand beef industry to switch to a less methane producing feed?

ash_274 t1_irw1ith wrote on October 11, 2022 at 1:54 PM

Does the bill have an out for that? Does it include measurements and taxing on the results or is it just a tax per head?

brainybuge t1_iryiep8 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:57 PM

dairy* industry, and less methane producing than grass?

AdventurousListen483 t1_irvufvw wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:59 PM

Well you can’t force what products people buy. You can but it takes a huge amount of legislation…instead you over tax the bad stuff so people gravitate towards the better option

hypatiatextprotocol t1_irvuwkc wrote on October 11, 2022 at 1:02 PM

>creating a feedback loop

Taxes lost from methane-producing cows will be gained from non-methane-producing cows and other non-beef products. There doesn't have to be a loss of government revenue.