Mandating Farmers to Feed Cattle Seaweed to Reduce Methane Emissions

 

This bill’s purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cattle farming, and by extension reduce the effects of

climate change. This bill will mandate cattle farmers to modify their cattle’s diet to have at least 300mg of seaweed.

This will reduce Minnesota’s methane emissions and help the fight against climate change.

 

Products made with seaweed already exist, and are gaining popularity while prices are bound to decrease with further

farming of it. A study from last year found that after introducing just under 300mg of bromine into half of the diets of

cows, methane emissions would drop to half of the control group’s. In addition, seaweed has been found to not taint the

taste of dairy or beef from cattle fed with it. Livestock contribute to 32-37% of all methane emissions globally, and

methane is responsible for a third of global warming. By reducing methane emissions, impacts can be seen within twelve

years.

 

(1.) “Seaweed” - Any additive made up of asparagopsis taxiformis, a red algae with bioactives such as bromoform that

stop ruminals from producing methane with bromine containing organic compounds.

(2.) “Cows” or “Cattle” - Any ruminal farmed commercially for beef or dairy products.

 

Seaweed additives' effective price is difficult to pin down, as the time between the passing of this bill and its

enactment will allow time for the seaweed to become more commercially available and lower its price substantially.

Minnesota’s $153,780 median net income for farms, along with funding from fines via penalties will cover the cost of

additives in cattle’s feed.

 

Any cattle farmer neglecting the 300mg minimum will face a fine of $5,000 to $50,000 depending on the annual income of

the farm.

 

This bill will be enacted January 1st 2028.