Table 1.
By Bryan Weech
major retailers that have publically announced their expectation that beef be sustainably produced, to local cattlemen organizations that support the thousands of beef producers who are making key decisions every day concerning how to manage the land. Land is the beef industry’s greatest strength, and its greatest point of
vulnerability. Anyone following the multitude of lawsuits concerning grazing on public lands understands the risk to the industry. Given the negative impacts that improper grazing can produce, it is critical that good grazing management is utilized. However, what people using litigation, in an attempt to ban grazing, don’t realize is that in a large portion of the U.S., certainly in the regions where large herds of bison and elk once grazed, grazing is an essential component of healthy grasslands. Importantly, beef can be produced on land that isn’t suited for other
food production, while using self-renewing resources (grass) that requires few inputs except sunlight, water, nutrients that are already in the envi- ronment, and adequate rest after grazing. This is a miraculous process, which is a self-sustaining system when managed properly. However, it is also a delicate process and if managed improperly, has
detrimental results, causing a subsequent reduction in sustainability. There is opportunity for continuous improvement in the area of land stewardship, and as stakeholders work together to support the research and information dissemination that allows continuous improvement in grazing management, there will be great stories to share concerning how the beef industry is contributing to a healthy plant, healthy food secure people and fi nancially healthy families and communities.
Bryan Weech is a consultant and adviser on sustainable agricultural proj- ects. Contact him at
bryanweech@gmail.com. ❚
tscra.org #CattleRaisers
Sustainable beef is a wholesome and healthful protein source that is produced, processed, distrib- uted and marketed in such a way that it minimizes impacts on the environment, and optimizes re- source use effi ciency, and stew- ardship contributes to functional ecosystems including healthy soil, pasture, water, wildlife pop- ulations and biodiversity gener- ally, and enhances eco-system services such as carbon seques- tration, protection of water re- sources, and biodiversity etc.,
Sustainable beef avoids defor- estation, land degradation, and damage to other high conserva- tion value areas including water resources, riparian areas, wild- life habitat etc.
Sustainable beef minimizes re- source usage on a per unit of production basis including feed, energy, water, packaging mate- rial etc.
Sustainable beef is socially re- sponsible by providing nutritional security, community vibrancy, protection of worker and animal welfare, and other social ben- efi ts.
Sustainable beef is fi nancially viable by contributing to stake- holder value, long-term econom- ic security, and quality of life. ❚
January 2017 The Cattleman 67
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