Sustainability and The Beef Checkoff – By Gary Gwin, Program Manager, Wyoming Beef Council

As we observe Ag Day this year at the Wyoming Beef Council (WBC) we think about how beef producers fit into the lager group of ag producers in the country, and in our state.

Before Christmas, WBC members got together in Laramie to develop a strategic plan that will take us through 2031. One of the identified goals of the strategic plan is to exercise commitment to continuous improvement in environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

An often-used descriptor of the American Rancher is that ranchers are the original conservationists. So, it is not surprising that the committee who put together the beef industry long-range plan on the national level, and the Wyoming Beef Council members who developed WBC’s strategic plan, adopted environmental stewardship as one of their main goals. Both of these groups are made up entirely of beef producers. They represent the grass-roots leadership of the Beef Checkoff.

If you spend any amount of time in the company of beef producers you can’t help but recognize just how much these men and women care about the livestock they raise and the land they steward. In addition to their cattle, they are also invested in the wildlife that takes up residence on their ranches.

On many Wyoming ranches water development is a key issue. Ranchers throughout our state have developed miles of underground waterlines that allow cattle to graze in areas that historically were not usable. This not only increases the carrying capacity for individual ranches but it has multiple additional benefits. The water development also increases the available habitat for wildlife like pronghorn, deer, elk and birds. Increased grazing areas also mitigates the fire danger that would exist on under-utilized grasslands. Many ranches have also developed well thought-out rotational grazing systems for their properties which results in healthy, productive pastures.

When talking with our ranchers you will often hear quotes like “I take care of the land and my cows because they take care of me and my family.” Or “I want to ensure that this ranch is stable and productive so that my grandchildren can experience the same type of lifestyle that I have enjoyed.” The fact is that 90% of beef ranches and farms in the United States are family-owned and operated. Raising beef is a complex process, but throughout the entire journey, one thing remains constant – the shared commitment to raising cattle in a safe, humane and environmentally sustainable way.