Earth Day is everyday for farmers and ranchers

We were the first environmentalists.

Farmers and ranchers have been caring for this land since the beginning of time. Stewardship is important to use because we make our living from the land, and it is our responsibility to leave it in the same or better shape than we found it. It's great to create awareness about sustainability and the environment on this one day, but the truth is the people that are feeding your families have those things on their mind everyday.




To watch more videos of ranchers participating in stewardship search Oregon Cattlemens or Colorado Cattlemens on YouTube. 

• Eight-five percent of U.S. grazing lands are unsuitable for producing crops. By grazing animals on this land American ranchers can more than double the area that can be used to produce food. 
• U.S. beef producers needed 37 million fewer cattle in 2008 to produce the same amount of meat as in 1975. That is thanks to increased efficiency (more meat per head of cattle) that has lead to less waste and less required feed. 

It got posted!

Celebrate farmers this Earth Day...

So I mentioned a couple posts below that I was writing a letter-to-the-editor regarding the care and respect farmers and ranchers have for the environment. Well... it is appearing to today's newspaper! To see the article or comment on it please follow this link. Have an awesome Wednesday!

Earth Day

Farmer and ranchers are everyday environmentalists

On April 22, people from around the world will celebrate Earth Day. This will be another opportunity for anti-agriculture activists to sing their song about the harm agriculture and beef production does to our environment. In their attempt to convince consumers to eat less beef, they are claiming that beef and red meat is bad for the environment, cows are causing global warming and in order to save the planet you should go "meatless" for at least one day per week. 

Now those that raise beef - a nutrient-dense, wholesome product, that has been called Mother Nature's best vitamin know that these are false claims, primarily made by those groups that have the goal to rid this country of animal agriculture. 

So what are we going to do? Below is a letter-to-the-editor that I have sent to my local paper and I would encourage you to do the same. Through the Beef Advocacy program, I have been provided with some guidelines to help you write your letter. Contact me at crystal.cattle@gmail.com if you interested. We need to make sure we are educating our consumers on the value of agriculture. They are eager to learn, we just have to make sure we are telling them our story. Remember Earth Day is only a couple days away, so get typing!

Dear Editor,

This month we will celebrate Earth Day, but the truth is farmers like me are everyday environmentalists. I celebrate Earth Day every day – not only because agriculture is dependent on water and soil, but also because protecting the land and environment is the right thing to do.

We raise our cattle on millions of acres of U.S. land that are not suitable for growing crops. This more than doubles that land that can be used to produce food, all while helping prevent erosion and preserving wildlife habitat.

Today’s modern cattle feeding practices has allowed us to produce more pounds of beef with less resources. 1950s production practices would require an additional 165 million acres to raise beef.

My family and I are responsible stewards of the land and I am helping produce a nutrient-dense, wholesome product with your and my families in mind.

Celebrate Earth Day with a steak dinner and support America’s agriculture industry, everyday environmentalists who get up each morning to take care of the land and produce the food we so often take for granted.