South Dakota Cattleman to U.S. Senate Committee: American
Beef is Climate Change Solution
WASHINGTON (Oct. 17, 2019) -- South Dakota cattle producer
Todd Wilkinson today told a U.S. Senate subcommittee that contrary to the
claims of some environmental and anti-animal-agriculture activists,
"American beef production and consumption is a climate change
solution."
"Climate policies that unfairly target cattle producers fail to recognize
the positive role of cattle and beef in a healthy, sustainable food
system," Wilkinson told members of the U.S. Senate's Environment and
Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. "Rather than
adopting misguided policies that threaten the viability of farmers and
ranchers, we want to shift the conversation."
The subcommittee held today's hearing on the issue of "Reducing Emissions
While Driving Economic Growth: Industry-Led Initiatives." In his testimony,
Wilkinson discussed the environmental benefits of grazing, and busted myths
about the effect of methane on global climate.
"(Grazing) naturally sequesters carbon, a benefit
compounded by ruminant grazing," Wilkinson explained. "Grazing builds
deep root systems in prairie grasses, which improve soil health. Healthy soils
retain more water, sequester more carbon, and increase the resiliency of our
ranches."
"Methane emissions from cattle are part of the natural methane
cycle," Wilkinson continued. "Within 10 years, more than 90 percent
of that methane combines with oxygen in the atmosphere and converts to CO2.
Methane has no long-term impact on climate when emissions and oxidation are in
balance. And this balance has been maintained for centuries."
Wilkinson, who is co-owner and operator of a commercial cow-calf operation and
feeing business in De Smet, S.D., also serves as NCBA's 2019 Policy Division
Vice Chairman and as Vice President of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation.
He closed his testimony by reminding Senators of producers' long commitment to
environmental stewardship.
"The U.S. cattle industry is proud of its history as
stewards of our nation's natural resources," he said. "Cattle
producers are America's original conservationists, and we work hard every day
to ensure that we can pass our operations on to the next generation. My family,
and the entire American cattle producing community, is committed to remaining
environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable for generations to
come."
You can read Wilkinson's full written testimony here.