Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Cowgate: Animal Agriculture Not a Major Contributor to Global Warming. Any Comments?

From the Washington Post.

 

Forget all that indecorous talk of animal flatulence, cow burps, vegetarianism and global warming. Welcome to Cowgate.

Lower consumption of meat and dairy products will not have a major impact in combating global warming — despite persistent claims that link such diets to more greenhouse gases. So says a report presented Monday before the American Chemical Society.

It is the bovine version of Climategate, complete with faulty science and noisy activists with big agendas.

Cows and pigs have gotten a "bum rap," said Frank Mitloehner, an air quality expert at the University of California at Davis who authored the report. He is plenty critical of scientists and vegetarian activists such as Paul McCartney who insist that livestock account for about a fifth of all greenhouse-gas emissions.

He also is critical of highly-publicized campaigns that call for "meatless Mondays" or push the motto "Less Meat = Less Heat," a European campaign launched in December during the Copenhagen climate summit. Talk of pricey air pollution permits of a "cow tax" for already cash-strapped farmers has surfaced in the U.S. and abroad.

 

Click here to read the whole story on the Washington Post website...

Views: 287

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

It just proves once again, that the populace are being herded like a school of fish with an aquarium mind-set.

The UN clearly is focused on shifting the global wealth and has patently found the argument of "climate change" as an easily accepted vehicle that most people can readily buy into. The global warming debate lends a level of empowerment to the average citizen. We are now demanding lifestyle changes without the benefit of global "truths" such as "Producing less meat and milk will only mean more hunger in poor countries." .

How can government turn down demands from their majority of citizens?

Another good article can be found at (24 March 2010)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8583308.stm
"Dr Mitloehner contends that in developed societies such as the US - where transport emissions account for about 26% of the national total, compared with 3% for pig- and cattle-rearing - meat is the wrong target in efforts to reduce carbon emissions."
From London's Science Museum:
" The scientific community has, with some exceptions, concluded that climate change is real, largely driven by humans and requires a response," said the museum's director Professor Chris Rapley. "Our objective is to minimise the shrill tone and emotion that bedevils discussion of this subject."

with that being said... Let's get on with life and enjoy the upcoming BBQ season.
Just a note that emissions from animal agriculture are not just about bodily emissions from the animals themselves, more important is the energy and water expended in growing and transporting grain for those animals. So while the criticism of the UN in report is sound, it is not at all the point of that report. The point of the report still stands, in that reducing the consumption of grain-fed meat overall leads to significantly lower emmissions. Carbon is actually sequestered in grass-fed methods so it is the grain that matters.

It's also important to note that you can just focus on any one sector, like transportation or agriculture, as we have consider the environment in all major aspects of our lives in order to do what it takes to reduce the serious impact of climate change. Finally, to take the UN's mistake and speculate about what either global food policy or individual choices should be as Mr. Mitloehner does in the longer versio of the article, is not his role and is beyond his expertise and his work, as various commentors have stated since this 'sensational' story broke.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Avian Flu Back In Western Canada

Avian flu is making the rounds again in Western Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says new cases have popped up in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Salmon Arm in B.C., and in Ponoka County here in Alberta. That brings Alberta’s total to nine commercial flocks hit this year, with more under investigation near Strathcona and Leduc. Saskatchewan’s first outbreak of the season showed up in Humboldt last month. Officials blame fall migration for spreading the virus and are urging poultry producers to lock down biosecurity. Meanwhile, an update from an animal sanctuary in BC’s interior. The sanctuary near Summerland is reeling from what staff call a devastating outbreak of avian influenza. Critteraid says its farm has been closed since late October after a positive case of H5N1. The virus was confirmed after several birds, including a rooster named Delta, died suddenly. In total, more than a dozen chickens and five ducks were lost—some euthanized for safety. Interior Health is doing co

Weekly Weather Summary

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s weekly weather summary released today. Information from the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, which is released weekly by the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service from April through November, was not available due to the federal government shutdown. “Based on my observations while traveling around the state and the conversations I’m having with farmers, harvest appears to be nearly complete. That’s in line with the five-year average, which shows Iowa typically has about 98% of soybeans and 91% of corn harvested by mid-November,” said Secretary Naig. “There was a notable weather shift over the weekend as many parts of the state received the first snowfall of the season and snow blanketed much of northwest Iowa. Temperatures fell into the teens and low 20s across much of the state, marking the official end of the growing season

Secretary Naig Requests Nominations for Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to nominate fuel marketers and gas stations in their communities for the Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. The Secretary’s annual awards recognize retailers that go above and beyond in their efforts to promote homegrown, renewable fuels and use innovative marketing strategies to showcase the availability and affordability of higher biofuel blends at their locations. “American-made biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel save Iowans money at the pump, give consumers more choice, and increase the value of Iowa-grown corn and soybeans,” said Secretary Naig. “These homegrown fuels power our state forward. They support Iowa’s ag economy, create good jobs in rural communities, and keep more dollars right here at home. Please help recognize a deserving gas station or fuel retailer by nominating them for this award.” Retailers receiving strongest consideration for the award will be those who market renewable fuels in innovative and cr

Case IH AI tool helps with technician efficiency

case ih ai tech assisant,dan mattson case ih,case ih technicians

Snowfall Puts Brakes on Ontario Corn Harvest

The Ontario corn harvest has been halted or delayed because of the first major snowfall of the season earlier this week, according to the latest weekly update from Grain Farmers of Ontario on Thursday. 

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service