Every Day is Earth Day For Cattle Farmers and Ranchers

In honor of the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, American farmers and ranchers are celebrating the more than 40 ways raising cattle can contribute to environmental sustainability.

Dawn Thurnau from the Missouri Beef Industry Council says that over 86% of all cattle farmers and ranchers cite environmental stewardship and environmental resources as the most important elements of their success, and say they have embraced the values of Earth Day for generations.

“The steps that we take to improve the environment are not new. They’ve been around for many decades. As short-term tenants of the land, it’s our job to ensure it’s left in better shape for the next generation.”

Thurnau says that many aren’t aware of how cattle farming and ranching has evolved in their conservation practices over the years, or just how many people each farmer feeds.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that beef farmers provide more people with nutritious beef products using fewer natural resources than ever before. Today’s American farmer feeds 144 people worldwide, and we’ll need to feed even more in the future.”

Thurnau goes on to describe the many environmental benefits of cattle farming and ranching.

“Pastures provide forage and habitat for numerous wildlife species, including 20 million deer, 500,000 antelope, 400,000 elk and 55,000 horses and burrows.”

She also says that farmers and ranchers who are landowners have restored or enhanced 445,000 acres and 885 river miles of habitat for fish and wildlife, and employ a variety of environmentally friendly practices.

“Farmers also do things like rotational grazing to make sure the grass stays fresh as long as possible. Of course, manure is the most natural form of fertilizer there is. These little practices that cattle farmers do every single day to protect the land, that’s what people talk about during Earth Day, but they don’t realize this is an everyday thing for cattle producers.”

If you would like to find beef recipes that are both tasty and healthy, visit the Missouri Beef Industry Council website at www.mobeef.org, or the national website at www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.