An article in Addison Independent, Dec. 5, 2024, details the source of Green House Gas Emissions from Addison County for 2022.

The article accuses Addison County agriculture of being the worst GHG emitter in the county for 2022, finding that agriculture is the source of 35.1% of all GHG emitters, ahead of transportation and delivered fuels which are basically home and business heating.

If one looks at Environmental Protection Agency numbers for 2022, we find that nationwide agriculture contributes about only 10% of GHG emissions. With industry, electricity generation and transportation far in the lead. This is comparing using CO2 equivalents in all cases. Meaning these are valid comparisons to the Addy Indy article.

Addison County is the small view where nationally the larger view gives us more perspective.

So why is Addison County agriculture in the lead? Addison County has a concentration of agricultural activity, of dairy farms and many other farm enterprises, like turkey farms. Naturally, the county will have a high concentration of GHG emissions from ag. At the same time, both transportation and delivered fuels increased by a higher percentage (per the article’s figures) than agriculture over the past five years.

Producing food does seem like an important thing to do. Of course, farmers are concerned about climate change and we’re willing to do our part to reduce GHG where we can afford to. There are many innovative solutions being researched and put into practice. This is where good solid science comes into play.

The alarming trend today is that science is being doubted, and even worse, totally ignored by all too many in leadership roles. The new Trump administration being an alarming example.

Science may not be perfect, but science is self-correcting. That is the important and transformative reality that enables us to solve problems. Climate change, hunger, health, and producing the best ice cream.

Paul Stone, Orwell