On December 7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared greenhouse gas emissions a health threat to people, which cleared it to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act rather than wait for new climate legislation.

Agricultural groups disagree with the ruling and cite the need for new legislation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Such a scenario would require Congressional action, which could take time and also succumb to the significant lobbying efforts of agricultural interests.

Agricultural sources currently do not have to register for greenhouse gas emissions permits. However, some experts believe that could change under the Clean Air Act. Nevertheless, enforcement of permitting requirements would be difficult for over 2 million farms currently in the United States.

While some global reports have blamed livestock for nearly 20 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, those in the agriculture industry cite the land use and forestry practices that sequester carbon and other greenhouse gases for a net environmental benefit.

At this juncture, it is unknown how the EPA will proceed and how stiffer regulation may affect agricultural interests. Furthermore, there is still much murkiness in the scientific methods used to measure emissions. Until these variables become standardized, analysis of the impact of the EPA's ruling is speculative.

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