Alabama agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks says a proposed livestock tax proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should raise alarms.

He said the levy would effectively put livestock farmers out of business by taxing them for supposed greenhouse gas releases by the animals.

The proposed tax would affect any farm with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs. A farmer would pay $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 per beef cow, and $20 for each hog annually.

Sparks serves as president of a national agriculture group and said his organization will submit comments to the EPA opposing the initiative.

He also urged all livestock producers to make a public response by the Nov. 28, 2008 deadline.