During a session of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association(NCBA) Cattlemen’s Convention that occurred July 10-12 in Nashville, Tennessee, the organization announced its plans for net-zero emissions by 2040.

Following a set of environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals during Thursday’s session, NCBA set a plan for climate neutrality and helping ranchers raise awareness of the industry’s sustainability.

In a press release from the trade organization, they state, “Beef producers in the United States are already the global leader in sustainable beef production. The setting of these goals will further enhance the sustainability of the U.S. system and set targets that demonstrate to the world that producers are committed to continued improvement. The goals for the U.S. cattle industry include:

• Demonstrate climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040.
• Create and enhance opportunities that result in a quantifiable increase in producer profitability and economic sustainability by 2025.
• Enhance trust in cattle producers as responsible stewards of their animals and resources by expanding educational opportunities in animal care and handling programs to further improve animal well-being.
• Continuously improve our industry’s workforce safety and well-being.”

Along with their goals, NCBA past president Marty Smith commended the ranchers who work as advocates for their animals, land, and livelihoods.

“Cattlemen and women have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability for generations. They work tirelessly to protect the land, water and air resources in their care. Through countless improvements in genetics, grazing management, manure handling and the adoption of many other technologies, this is just the next step on our industry’s path,” said Marty Smith, a Florida cattleman and NCBA past president. “Producers deserve recognition for their use of cutting-edge practices and technologies that minimize environmental impact. By setting goals, we’re publicly committing to continuous improvement and setting targets that allow us to measure and document those efforts.”

The press release goes on to explain the foundation of the task force which helped to bring these goals to the forefront of the organization’s plan to fight back against those who shame the industry for its alleged environmental harm.

“These goals are the culmination of a grassroots, rancher-led process. The Sustainability Goals Task Force was formed in 2021 to evaluate the current state of U.S. beef cattle sustainability, determine which improvements are most critical and help share the story of progress. Members of this working group – cattle farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. – led the process and made all decisions, including setting the sustainability goals.”

Smith added, “Sustainability is, and will continue to be, an incredibly important part of what we do, and I’m proud that my fellow leaders across the cattle industry have taken these important steps,” Smith said. “As our country and the world examine risks associated with climate change and other sustainability challenges, our commitment to sustainability positions us to play an even bigger role in mitigating these risks in the future.”

NCBA already has a sustainability homepage on its website, at https://www.ncba.org/sustainability where it has listed more information regarding the climate neutrality goals. There, it lists a hopeful future for the beef industry and its ability to become even more sustainable than it already is.

One fact listed shows how much the industry has improve in 60 years, showing how hard ranchers have worked to be better, “Between 1961 and 2018, the U.S. beef industry has reduced emissions per pound of beef by more than 40% while also producing more than 60% more beef per animal. This is a result of continued sustainability efforts and improved resource use.”

The page also lists more information on each section of sustainability and how it will be achieved by 2040.

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Environmental Sustainability
Goal: Demonstrate the climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040.
According to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the U.S. beef supply chain has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions footprint of all beef-producing countries in the world and has been the global leader since 1996. This is not the product of resting on our laurels. Beef production in the United States is a shining example of how ingenuity, creativity, and thinking outside the box can facilitate global progress.

U.S. cattle producers have a personal stake in protecting our environment. For generations, ranchers have raised cattle on native grasslands, steep mountainsides, and coastal plains, working in harmony with nature to produce one of the most nutrient-dense food products on our grocery store shelves.

Ranchers protect habitat for wildlife, maintain the health of native ecosystems, and employ grazing management practices that sequester carbon. Cattle producers work hard to protect air and water quality, not only to preserve the health of their animals, but for the health of their families and communities.

Cattle producers in the United States play a vital role in mitigating climate-related risks. And in the face of growing concerns related to climate change, the cattle industry commits to showing that we are part of the solution. The cattle industry is committed to leading the charge to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the most up-to-date research and technologies related to carbon sequestration and emissions reduction.

Economic Sustainability
Goal: Create and enhance opportunities that result in a quantifiable increase in producer profitability and economic sustainability by 2025.

To achieve industry-wide progress toward all sustainability goals, U.S. cattle producers must remain economically viable. The existence of a pro-producer business climate is imperative to ensure that cattle producers remain in business and continue to provide superior societal and conservation value.

When evaluating strategies to increase value, we must recognize the difference between creating value and capturing value. Not only do we strive to grow the value of beef production in the United States, but also to ensure that cattle producers realize these gains.

Social Sustainability
Goal: Enhance trust in cattle producers as responsible stewards of their animals and resources by expanding educational opportunities in animal care and handling programs to further improve animal well-being.

Cattle producers in the United States have a long history of sustainable resource management and continuous improvement to enhance the lives of the animals in our care.

For years, the Beef Quality Assurance program has been a hallmark of good animal husbandry practices among U.S. cattle producers.

Sound animal care techniques are at the heart of how farmers and ranchers raise beef. BQA’s guidelines, in combination with experience and environment-specific needs, help farmers and ranchers ensure animal welfare through daily husbandry and animal care.

Social Sustainability
Goal: Continuously improve our industry’s workforce safety and well-being.

More than 90 percent of U.S. farms and ranchers are family-owned and 78 percent of ranchers plan to invest in their community by passing their operation on to future generations.

Nearly 90 percent of farmers and ranchers state that ensuring and maintaining a healthy workforce is important to the future of the industry. This includes a focus on safety, job creation/fair compensation and management plans. 82 percent of farmers and ranchers agree that fair compensation for labor is a high priority for the future of the beef industry.