The Farm Beat: Buuurrrrrrpppppp!!!

We're thinking of running an AP story out of Vermont on some dairy farmers trying to reduce burping by their cows. They believe that the burps are a major source of methane, which floats into the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. The farmers, who supply the Stonyfield Farms yogurt company, are increasing the amount of alfalfa, grass and flax in the cows' rations with the hope of changing the digestive process that produces burps. This means less corn and soy.

The idea that cow burps do damage has drawn derision from some people in the San Joaquin Valley, where dairy farming is huge. But air regulators have said it seems to be true, and that diet changes could be part of the solution. It could be a hard sell to dairy farmers, who believe that corn is crucial to efficient and low-cost milk production.

Let me know what you think.