Green New Deal will impact beef industry

The Green New Deal is getting a lot of attention. It’s a wide–ranging effort from Democrats in Washington to tackle climate change.

It was introduced by Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez earlier this month.

The legislation is designed to eliminate the United States carbon footprint by 2030.

“We should do it because we are a country founded on ideals of a culture that is innovative that cares for our brothers and sisters across this country, we should do it because we are an example to the world,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

The proposal focuses heavily on the fuel industry. The beef industry is on high alert as an official with the Nebraska Cattlemen says this new deal could abolish all cows.

“We definitely feel targeted by it, any proposal that aims to reduce U.S. cattle production for the state’s number one industry and a huge part of the economy, not only in Nebraska but the United States,” Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at Nebraska Cattlemen, Jessie Herrmann said.

Some would say it targets beef producers because cows produce methane and the deal is trying to reduce green house gasses like methane.

“We’re the number one state for cattle on feed, we feed about 5 million head in the state every single year, so you take that away, you are taking a significant portion of our state’s economy away.” Herrmann said. “It would really cripple Nebraska, it would bring it to it’s knees.”

Supporters of the Green New Deal advocate a combination of Franklin Roosevelt’s economic approach with modern ideas.

The resolution is non-binding, meaning if it does get the votes and passes it would not become law. This would give them momentum for possible change in the future.