A Washington state representative is advocating for updated cattle methane emission data. The bill could increase the cost of beef, cheese, milk, and more.
However, its sponsor argues having up-to-date methane data will go a long way.
“Let’s see what the data says. Where does it lead us? Do we need to do any policy beyond monitoring? And that’s where I’m at. I don’t like to make decisions, especially about something like climate change or anything else that’s not scientifically backed up. And if we find and discover that the methane in Washington on these feed lots and these dairy farms aren’t worthy of anything further than monitoring— that’s great! We’ve done what we asked,” Rep. Lisa Parshley explains.
She says that she does not want to negatively impact food production or availability, but no policy is perfect from the start.
“If we don’t start with monitoring, we could end up with a policy based on assumptions, innuendos, and data from another state, which may have different production methods, may have difference size dairies and feed lots, and they may have corporations which are much, much larger and have much more of an impact,” she adds. “Let’s start with understanding what Washington has.”
Opponents call it an attack on Washinton state’s farmers and ranchers.
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