| | | | | | | | | Why Animal Ag's Carbon Focus Matters | | | Americans are grappling with our perception of animal protein. Is it a healthy single-ingredient food relied on by our earliest ancestors? Or is it a climate change nightmare?
Reality is, American animal agriculture is among the most efficient in the world. And yet, it also comes with real environmental impact. We see entire industries – including dairy, pork and chicken – paving a new path toward “net zero” animal protein commitments. The question is whether those efforts will be enough to allay Americans’ concerns about the impact of meat.
Against this backdrop, Trust In Food’s mission – to accelerate regenerative agriculture from producer to consumer – is as important as ever. We’re at work with partners across the protein value chain, as you can read below. We see this space evolving quickly, with significant progress to date, and much more work ahead. So watch this space, and please be in touch if you have an animal protein question or project. We’re here to help.
Yours In Regenerative Ag,
Amy Skoczlas Cole
Executive Vice President
Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | The American Rancher's Sustainability Ethic | | | Shared by Drew Slattery, Human Dimensions of Change Lead, Trust In Food: In a world with self-driving cars and smartphones, the weathered hands and dusty-chaps identity of American ranchers might feel like an aging caricature to some, or a painful reminder of American westward expansion into land long stewarded by Indigenous American Indians. But, while both of these perceptions are certainly true, I want to make the case for another way to view the rancher identity: as the key to a future where truly sustainable beef production is not only possible, but the norm. | | | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | America's Conservation Ag Movement Spotlights Nutrient And Manure Management Strategies | | | Conservation education and outreach is a core focus of America's Conservation Ag Movement, designed to help farmers understand, value and feel capable of taking the next step on their stewardship journey. In the Catoctin Creek Watershed of Maryland, we convened a conversation about nutrient and manure management featuring Dr. Curtis Dell, soil research scientist at USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Learn more in this free on-demand webinar.
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| | | | | | | Shared by Kinsie Rayburn, Conservation Knowledge Officer, Trust In Food: "In their first of eight episodes of the "Healthy Soil for Sustainable Cotton," the Soil Health Institute focuses on cotton production in the Mississippi Delta (my home state) and the challenges the Delta faces. In this video, Sledge Taylor, a cotton farmer from Commo, Miss., discusses how he is using no-till and multispecies cover crops on his 4,500-acre farm with a goal of capturing more rainfall to provide crops with water at crucial times of the year. The discussion includes his no-till planter set-up plus selection, planting and termination of cover crops, along with soil health benefits he has observed." | | |
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| | | Shared by Ethan White, Manager of Farmer Outreach and Engagement: The real estate investment trust Farmland Partners, which went public in 2014, owns approximately 156,000 farmland acres in 16 different states and is one of a variety of investors picking up farmland, with potential implications for sustainability outcomes. The company's share price has climbed sharply over the past several months as investors looks for safe bets for funds. This trend, alongside recent farmland purchases by the likes of Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, suggests farmers and conservationists should continue to collaboratively explore ways to align the interests of producers (who often rent) and landowners for more adoption of sustainable management practices at scale. | | |
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| | | Shared by Emily Smith, Community Engagement Coordinator, Trust In Food: "Producers can't control the weather, but they can have a say in how well their soil absorbs and holds onto rainfall. The Blair family of South Dakota perfectly illustrates how ranchers can successfully make the most of the little water they might have to maintain a thriving cattle business while stewarding their land generously. The family worked with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service since the '60s to incorporate conservation practices into its beef operation. They report practices such as rotational grazing, multispecies cover crops and riparian fencing have contributed to heavier weaning weights, healthier cattle and the ability to run cattle year-round." | | |
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