Environment Forum
Global environmental challenges
The world’s most costly cows?
Farm subsidies in many rich countries are high but the Norwegian $16-a-day cows have to be among the most astronomical examples.
The problem is that Norway wants farmers in the Arctic county of Finnmark to produce milk — but since it’s so cold for much of the year the herds have to live in heated barns and food has to be trucked in.
That’s clearly bad economics and far worse for the environment than cows grazing outside on grass.
The government argues that a Viking-style resolve to keep society going in remote Arctic regions means cows have to live in the barren north and that the alternative of closing down dairy farms and trucking in milk is worse.
