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Butch Furse
Well, just as we thought the mask mandates for the COVID-19 were over, we find there are “cracks” in the system. No, the majority of the new requests have not emerged for wearing masks to ease summer allergies, or for the potentials virus to come. The new mandates are asking for something else. How about masks for livestock?
According to a story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, cow masks are being considered for the good of mankind. An international company Cargill is partnering with a UK startup to distribute a masked device that is put over a dairy cows nose to absorb methane released by their burps and exhales. The accessory converts 90 to 95 percent of the methane released through a cow’s mouth into carbon dioxide.
The trials now in Europe are part of experimental pilot programs and technologies explored by agribusinesses as they seek to reduce the environmental toll of livestock in the supply chain. Beef production concentrated in North America is under consistent pressure because of the greenhouse emissions or ruminants.
According to reporter Kristen Leigh-Painter, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity are due to feeding, raising and processing livestock.
Personally, we have a tough time visualizing local dairy farmers or beef producers putting masks to sell at a premium climate-controlled milk or beef that fetches a premium.
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We laughed when seeing a copy of a billboard posted in western Nebraska taking a shot to some of those western county Nebraskans who are shunning their COVID shots. The billboard displayed a few cattle with the caption: “You don’t skip vaccinating your own cattle herds. Why would you now skip your own COVID shot?”
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Recently there have been news articles related to the personal information on wealthy individuals’ tax filings. The articles implied a pattern of illegal activity.
Closer examination showed the bulk of the filings gave no indication of illegal activity. There were no laws broken and basically the wealthy were doing what many commoners do – just on a larger scale. Deductions are taken for financial gifts to charities instead of paying taxes on higher taxable income.
As a reminder, latest government figures show nationally over $88.5 billion was given by foundations supported by charitable wealthy individuals or corporations.
It’s simple. Would you prefer the government receive the money or charitable foundations? If you say, “government,” then you should work for a revamp of our present tax laws.
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Every day holds the possibility of miracles.
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
