Idaho Producer Beef Cattle Is Not Detrimental To The Environment

The beef industry is defending its sustainability record against attacks in the mainstream media that it does more damage to the environment than good. Idaho producer Kim Brackett, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, recently told lawmakers in D.C. EPA figures show beef cattle are responsible for only 2% of all greenhouse gases emitted.

“Not only are beef cattle not significant contributors to the full emissions profile, but what cattle and cattle producers do, helps to avoid other kinds of emissions, like those from catastrophic wildfire, and it makes lands more drought resilient.”

Brackett argues loss of grazing lands through overregulation means loss of migratory habitats.

“Every day, our industry loses vital grasslands to development or other non-agricultural uses. It is of the utmost importance that we preserve our legacy carbon sinks across this country—especially our grazing lands.”

Through private markets for creating wildlife habit, filtering water and capturing carbon. Brackett said there are many ways Congress can help producers, by, ensuring that ranches can effectively be passed to the next generation, and by working to protect cattle producers from “unaffordable regulatory burden.”

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